Iran Claims Seizure of U.S. Underwater Drone Amid Red Sea Tensions
Iran's IRGC claims to have captured a U.S. Remus 600 underwater drone, alleging it was conducting espionage in a strategic waterway. The U.S. denies the claim, while Iran states this is the second such capture this month, with specialists now examining the drone for stored data.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the capture of a U.S. unmanned underwater vehicle, specifically identified as a Remus 600 drone, operating in a strategic waterway. The IRGC asserted that the drone was conducting surveillance and gathering data for alleged espionage purposes, leading to its capture in a coordinated operation involving advanced intelligence collection and electronic warfare capabilities.
Iranian authorities claim the Remus 600 has since been handed over to specialists who are attempting to recover and examine its stored data. The United States has firmly rejected these claims, asserting that it maintains positive control of all its operational drone assets.
This reported seizure marks what Iranian authorities allege to be the second instance this month of capturing a U.S.-owned underwater drone. Earlier in the month, Iran had claimed to have captured an Anduril Dive-LD unmanned underwater vehicle near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz on September 8.
The REMUS 600, which Iran claims to possess, is an autonomous underwater system developed for advanced underwater operations. Its design enables it to perform a variety of missions, including seafloor mapping, mine detection, hydrographic surveying, and general maritime reconnaissance. The alleged presence and capture of such a sophisticated system underscore the heightened tensions and surveillance activities in the region's critical waterways.