Iran Says It Seized Another U.S. Underwater Drone in Hormuz
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on September 27 that its naval forces captured a U.S. unmanned underwater vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz, identifying it as a REMUS 600. The IRGC said the seizure involved intelligence and electronic warfare support, and that Iranian specialists were examining the device for data. This was the second such claim this month, after Iran said on September 8 that it had taken an Anduril Dive-LD near the strait's entrance, while U.S. Central Command acknowledged losing an underwater drone that malfunctioned and carried no classified sonar or radar equipment.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on 27 September that its naval units took a U.S. unmanned underwater vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz, naming it a REMUS 600. The Guard described an operation supported by intelligence and electronic warfare, with Iranian experts reviewing the craft for data.
The claim followed an 8 September statement about an Anduril Dive-LD near the strait’s entrance. U.S. Central Command then acknowledged a malfunctioning underwater drone and said it carried no classified sonar or radar. The REMUS 600 is a modular, torpedo-shaped craft made by Hydroid, now under Norway’s Kongsberg, used for mine detection, mapping, surveys and surveillance.
This reported seizure may heighten maritime security concerns for shipping crews, insurers, and energy markets reliant on Strait of Hormuz transit. If similar incidents continue, navies and unmanned-system operators could face greater pressure to secure or recover assets, while regional fishers and port communities may see increased military activity. Diplomatically, the claims could complicate communication and raise risks of miscalculation, though the immediate effect on global trade may depend on whether transit lanes remain open.