Iran captures US Anduril Dive-LD near Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it captured one US Anduril Dive-LD underwater drone near the Strait of Hormuz, heightening tensions at a critical energy transit chokepoint.

The Pentagon disputed that account, saying the Dive-LD had malfunctioned and been adrift for more than a day before Iranian forces found it, officials said.

Conflicting recovery accounts

The IRGC published footage it said showed personnel recovering the vehicle in waters close to the strait; the force described the item as a foreign unmanned underwater system and said custody had been secured. Officials in Tehran framed the recovery as an operational success for the corps and a demonstration of control over nearby sea lanes, the IRGC said.

The Pentagon said the vehicle was not on an operational mission when it lost power and drifted, and that US personnel are reviewing the circumstances of the malfunction, officials said. US statements stressed the vehicle's disabled status before Iranian recovery and said there was no immediate evidence of a hostile seizure, the Pentagon said.

Officials cautioned the episode matters even if the US account is correct because an intact or partially intact system could allow a third party to examine hardware or software, officials said. Washington and regional partners will continue monitoring naval activity in the area; watch for any technical assessments or public statements from US military authorities by September 15, 2026.