Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed it seized a US unmanned submarine in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions around the strategic waterway amid an ongoing blockade.
Tehran’s state television broadcast an IRGC statement saying naval forces had intercepted the advanced underwater vessel in a “complex intelligence and operational action” at the entrance to the Strait.
The Guards said: “The IRGC naval forces captured one of the most modern, unmanned, and smart submarines of the US terrorist army at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz in a complex intelligence and operational action at dawn today.”
Iranian media described the vessel as one of the US military’s most sophisticated unmanned underwater assets. Such vehicles can be used for seabed mapping, mine detection and monitoring critical submarine cables and pipelines.
Press TV reported that Iran planned to release photographs and video of the alleged capture to substantiate its claim. Washington had not officially commented on the incident.
The reported seizure comes as confrontation between Tehran and Washington intensifies around the Strait, through which almost 20 per cent of global petroleum and liquefied natural gas supplies normally pass.
The waterway has remained under an Iranian blockade since hostilities began in late February, disrupting a major artery for global energy markets.
Tehran has also imposed transit fees on vessels attempting to pass through the Strait. In response, the US has established a counter-blockade targeting major Iranian ports.
The alleged capture of an American unmanned vessel would mark a significant escalation, particularly given the strategic value of unmanned underwater systems for surveillance and maritime security.
If confirmed, the incident could further complicate efforts to restore commercial shipping through the Strait and increase pressure on already disrupted global energy supplies.
For markets, the confrontation represents a growing threat to one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, with any sustained restriction on shipping likely to increase freight, insurance and energy costs.
The US has yet to confirm Tehran’s account, leaving the circumstances surrounding the alleged capture unclear.
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