Iran says it captured an 'advanced' American underwater drone. The US says it was older, malfunctioning, and ‘dead in the water.’
Iran claims to have captured an advanced US underwater drone near the Strait of Hormuz, while the US military maintains the device was an older, malfunctioning unit that was already 'dead in the water.' The incident follows a pattern of similar maritime tensions between the two nations.
Why it matters
This event underscores the ongoing geopolitical friction in the Middle East and the risks associated with uncrewed naval surveillance systems.
US Central Command said the drone had malfunctioned "well before" it was seized by Iran. US Central Command Photo Iran said it captured a US underwater drone near the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command said the older drone had malfunctioned and was "dead in the water." The US said it carried no classified equipment and collected no sensitive data. Iran's military said it seized an American-made underwater drone near the Strait of Hormuz. The US military said the uncrewed system had malfunctioned and was "dead in the water." The Navy has employed uncrewed undersea and surface vessels in and around the Middle East for an expanding range of missions, including clearing mines, gathering intelligence, rescuing military personnel, and conducting strikes.
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