The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced Tuesday that it had seized an unmanned American military submarine at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz. In contrast, a U.S. official offered a different perspective, asserting that the underwater vehicle suffered a technical malfunction during a mission related to tensions with Iran.
According to Reuters, the U.S. official reported that the unmanned military submarine encountered a technical issue while conducting a survey operation in Middle Eastern waters linked to the conflict with Iran.
The official clarified that the submarine was an older model and confirmed it was not equipped with secret sonographic or radar gear.
He added that the malfunction occurred more than a day ago, without providing further details about the submarine's location or how it was handled post-stoppage.
Conversely, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed in a statement broadcast on state television that it had captured what it described as "one of the latest smart and unmanned American submarines" at the Strait of Hormuz's entrance.
The Guard stated the capture was the result of a "complex operation," announcing plans to release images of the submarine in the coming hours.
This leads to differing accounts about the nature of the vessel and circumstances of its capture, with Washington describing it as an old model with technical issues, while Tehran portrays it as an acquisition of a sophisticated American vehicle.
Iranian state media reported the unmanned maritime vehicle boasts capabilities, including underwater reconnaissance and surveillance, seabed mapping, mine detection, and inspection of cables and offshore pipelines.
Independent verification of the Iranian claims regarding the submarine's capture or its specifications has not yet been possible.
The incident occurs amid escalating military tensions between the U.S. and Iran in regional sea routes, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, alongside mutual threats to target ships, naval vessels, and each other's economic interests.