Washington, Sep 28 (V7N)- The US military has denied an Iranian claim that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized a US autonomous underwater vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC claimed on Sunday evening that its naval forces had captured a sophisticated American autonomous underwater vehicle operating in the strategic waterway.
However, a US military spokesman told Qatar-based Al Jazeera that the United States maintains “positive control” over all of its unmanned underwater vehicles. The spokesman described Iran’s claim that it had seized a US submarine drone as “clearly disappointing.”
Meanwhile, IRGC spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebi said on X that the Strait of Hormuz remained open and claimed that IRGC naval forces were conducting operations targeting US submarines in the area.
Mohebi described the alleged seizure as the IRGC Navy’s second capture of a US underwater vehicle. He identified the vessel as a Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish, an autonomous underwater system equipped with advanced navigation technology.
“This is not just hunting; it is a huge opportunity for intelligence,” Mohebi said, according to the IRGC statement.
Earlier this month, the IRGC also claimed to have seized a US unmanned underwater vehicle near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media identified that system as a Dive-LD, reportedly manufactured by California-based defense technology company Anduril.
At the time, the IRGC described the vehicle as an advanced unmanned submarine belonging to the US military and claimed it used sophisticated technology.
The Pentagon, however, said the underwater drone had malfunctioned more than a day before Iran's announcement. A Pentagon spokesman said the vehicle had been monitoring territorial waters in support of ongoing military operations.
The spokesman also said the drone was an older model that did not collect sensitive information and was not equipped with radar. The Pentagon did not directly comment on Iran's claim that its forces had seized the vehicle.
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