Iran Guards say seized unmanned US submarine drone in Hormuz

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday they seized an American unmanned submarine drone in the Strait of Hormuz in a complex intelligence and operational action at dawn. The Guards said the vehicle was among the most modern U.S. submarine drones and had been delivered to the U.S. fleet in 2025. Iranian media said it could carry out subsurface reconnaissance, seabed mapping, mine detection, and inspection of submarine cables and pipelines. Iran also said it has maintained a blockade of the strait since the war began in late February.

The Guards said the drone was captured at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz at dawn on Tuesday.

Iranian media said the unmanned underwater vehicle was equipped for subsurface reconnaissance and surveillance.

The vehicle was described as capable of seabed mapping, mine detection, and inspection of submarine cables and pipelines.

Published Sep 9, 2026 2:45 am KST

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, Sept. 6. Reuters-Yonhap

TEHRAN — Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday said they seized an American submarine drone in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has blockaded in the months-long Middle East war.

"The IRGC naval forces captured one of the most modern, unmanned, and smart submarines of the U.S. terrorist army at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz in a complex intelligence and operational action at dawn today," the Guards said in a statement carried by state TV.

"This smart submarine is equipped with the latest technology in the subsurface field in the world, which was delivered to the U.S. terrorist army fleet in 2025," the statement added.

"This submarine has now been captured and images of it will be released in the coming hours."

Iranian media reported that the unmanned underwater vehicle's main capabilities included "subsurface reconnaissance and surveillance, seabed mapping, mine detection and inspection of submarine cables and pipelines."

Iran has maintained a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas exports, since the outbreak of the war in late February.

The U.S. has imposed its own counter-blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran says it plans to charge fees from transiting vessels to fund services including environmental protection, something the U.S. fiercely opposes.

伊朗革命卫队周二表示，他们在霍尔木兹海峡通过一次复杂的情报和作战行动，于黎明时分缴获了一架美国无人潜航器。革命卫队称，这架潜航器是美国最先进的潜航器之一，于2025年交付美国海军。伊朗媒体称，该潜航器可执行水下侦察、海底测绘、水雷探测以及海底电缆和管道检查等任务。伊朗还表示，自2月底战争爆发以来，一直对霍尔木兹海峡实施封锁。

卫兵们表示，这架无人机于周二黎明时分在霍尔木兹海峡入口处被捕获。

伊朗媒体称，这艘无人水下航行器配备了用于水下侦察和监视的设备。

该车辆被描述为能够进行海底测绘、水雷探测以及海底电缆和管道检查。

发布于2026年9月9日凌晨2:45（韩国标准时间）

9月6日，从阿曼穆桑达姆港拍摄的霍尔木兹海峡船只照片。（路透社-韩联社）

德黑兰——伊朗革命卫队周二表示，他们在具有战略意义的霍尔木兹海峡扣押了一艘美国潜艇无人机。在持续数月的中东战争中，德黑兰一直封锁着霍尔木兹海峡。

“今天黎明，伊朗伊斯兰革命卫队海军部队在霍尔木兹海峡入口处，通过一次复杂的情报和作战行动，缴获了美国恐怖分子军队最先进、无人、最智能的潜艇之一，”革命卫队在国家电视台发布的一份声明中表示。

声明还补充道：“这艘智能潜艇配备了世界上最先进的水下技术，已于 2025 年交付给美国反恐部队。”

“这艘潜艇已被俘获，其照片将在未来几个小时内公布。”

伊朗媒体报道称，该无人水下航行器的主要功能包括“水下侦察和监视、海底测绘、水雷探测以及海底电缆和管道检查”。

自 2 月下旬战争爆发以来，伊朗一直封锁霍尔木兹海峡，该海峡通常是全球约五分之一石油和液化天然气出口的通道。

美国也对伊朗港口实施了反封锁。

伊朗表示计划向过境船只收取费用，用于资助包括环境保护在内的各项服务，而美国对此强烈反对。