Appearance of US Underwater Drone Seized by Iran in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian media has broadcast video footage showing an unmanned underwater vehicle, or underwater drone, suspected to belong to the United States. Iran claims that the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized the vehicle.

The video shows the underwater vehicle at an undisclosed location. The vehicle appearing at the beginning of the footage shares characteristics with archival images of the Dive-LD model.

The footage also depicts the alleged interception of the underwater vehicle by Iranian forces. Iran stated that its troops intercepted the vehicle at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran and the US are known to have high military tensions in the region. The Strait of Hormuz itself remains one of the most strategic energy shipping lanes in the world.