U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that an American submarine drone captured by Iran near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday malfunctioned. CENTCOM spokesperson, Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, stated that the drone was conducting surveys in the region to support military operations and malfunctioned over a day prior to the incident. Hawkins emphasized that the drone was an older model that did not collect sensitive data and lacked classified sonar or radar equipment, asserting that U.S. operations in the area continue.
This statement counters claims made by Iranian officials, who described the underwater vehicle as one of the 'most modern' and 'smart' submarines equipped with advanced technology. Iranian state media reported that the submarine was capable of surveillance, seabed mapping, mine detection, and inspecting submarine cables and pipelines. They also released an image of the unmanned submersible vehicle on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for Anduril, the manufacturer of the vehicle, stated that the Dive-LD is designed to operate in hazardous environments where the loss of the vehicle is a possibility. The spokesperson noted that the vehicle had already provided significant value, operating for thousands of hours in CENTCOM operations over several months.
The Strait of Hormuz remains in a military stalemate following U.S. forces striking three Iranian oil tankers after attacks on Navy warships over the weekend. The American military warned that it would, if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet. This incident occurred after President Donald Trump referred to the conflict as 'small potatoes' last week, and negotiations to end the war have largely stalled. This story has been updated to include a statement from Anduril.