Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday that its naval forces had captured an American unmanned underwater vehicle in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

According to a statement carried by Iranian state television, the IRGC said the operation involved intelligence monitoring and electronic warfare. The Guards identified the underwater drone as a Remus 600 autonomous underwater vehicle.

“Through a coordinated, complex operation involving intelligence oversight and electronic warfare, IRGC naval forces’ personnel successfully captured an advanced unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) belonging to the terrorist US military,” the IRGC naval forces said.

The Iranian military claimed that the drone had been operating in the Strait of Hormuz for intelligence-gathering purposes and said it was now under the control of Iranian specialists who would examine it for information.

They added that the drone was “operating in the Strait of Hormuz for espionage purposes”, identifying the model as a Remus 600 autonomous underwater vehicle that was “now in the hands of the force’s specialists for data recovery”.

The US military’s position on the Iranian claim was not included in the Channels Television report.

Iran Says Drone Was Captured During Operation

The IRGC said the underwater vehicle was intercepted during what it described as a coordinated operation involving intelligence capabilities and electronic warfare.

Iran has previously claimed to have captured another American underwater drone in the same waterway earlier in September.

The latest announcement comes amid heightened tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime passage for international energy supplies. Shipping through the waterway has been severely disrupted during the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States.

The strait connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is one of the world’s most important routes for oil and gas shipments.

Strait of Hormuz Remains at the Centre of US-Iran Tensions

Iran has maintained that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed amid the conflict, while the United States has imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports.

The IRGC reiterated its position on Sunday, warning against what it described as dangerous manoeuvres and unauthorised movement through the waterway.

“The IRGC Navy firmly declares that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, and we are taking decisive and unceasing action against dangerous maneuvers and unauthorized transit within the strait,” the Iranian military said.

The latest claim was made as diplomatic efforts continued over the possibility of reopening the waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a central issue in negotiations surrounding the conflict, with Iran previously proposing conditions under which shipping through the strategic passage could resume.

Remus 600 Under Examination, Iran Says

The IRGC said its specialists would examine the captured underwater vehicle and attempt to recover information from it.

The Remus 600 is an autonomous underwater vehicle designed for underwater missions, including oceanographic surveys and other operations requiring extended underwater navigation.

Iran’s claim that the vehicle was being used for espionage was presented by the IRGC and has not been independently established in the Channels Television report.

The Guards’ announcement follows an earlier claim that another US submarine drone had been captured in the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway has remained heavily affected by the conflict, which has disrupted shipping and energy trade in the region.

The latest development adds another layer to the growing military tensions between Tehran and Washington as diplomatic efforts continue to address the conflict and the future of the strategically vital waterway.