Iran Claims It Seized a US Underwater Drone at Hormuz, Escalating Tensions

Iran’s IRGC says it trapped and captured the Dive-LD autonomous underwater vehicle built by Anduril near the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a modern U.S. sub; the United States has not issued a formal statement, but a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed the loss and said the device was an older, non-sensitive asset. Dive-LD is a reusable, sensor-ready platform with a claimed depth of up to 6,000 meters, up to 10 days endurance, and a price near $2.5 million; Anduril describes it as an attritable system designed for missions like mine warfare and ISR. The incident comes amid broader US-Iran hostilities, including US strikes on Iranian oil facilities in response to Iranian attacks on ships and bases, underscoring ongoing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.