Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Naval Forces have claimed the capture of a second advanced US unmanned underwater vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC identified the vessel as a Remus 600, alleging that it was operating in the strategic waterway for espionage.
In a statement on Sunday, IRGC said the vehicle was intercepted through a “coordinated and complex operation” involving military intelligence and electronic warfare.
The Guard said the Remus 600 was now in the possession of its specialists, who would analyse the system and seek to retrieve information stored on it.
The IRGC also declared that the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, warning against what it described as dangerous and unauthorised maritime movements.
“The IRGC Navy firmly declares that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and we are taking strong and relentless action against dangerous movements and unauthorised traffic through the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said.
The latest claim comes less than three weeks after Iran announced the capture of another US underwater drone, identified as a Dive-LD.
The US military acknowledged losing the vehicle but said it had malfunctioned more than a day before Iranian forces recovered it.
The Pentagon also said the older platform had not collected sensitive information or carried classified sonar or radar equipment.
The latest confrontation follows Iran’s proposal for a seven-day roadmap aimed at ending the fighting and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Under the proposal, Washington would lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, ease restrictions on Iranian oil sales and observe a regional ceasefire. Iran would subsequently reopen the strait and begin talks with the US on its nuclear programme.
Following his return from the United Nations General Assembly, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would remain firm in the face of the United States and Israel.
Senior Iranian Armed Forces spokesman, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, separately warned Washington against interfering with Tehran’s management of the strait.
“The Americans should not dream of interfering in the management of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, warning that vessels using routes not designated by Iran “will not have security.”
