Iran Claims Capture of US REMUS 600 Underwater Drone

Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced they have captured a second American REMUS 600 underwater drone in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the device was conducting intelligence-gathering and espionage operations in the strategic waterway. According to the Iranian report, the drone was seized through a coordinated electronic warfare operation, and Iranian specialists are now extracting data from it.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where the United States continues to move massive quantities of oil despite the complex security situation.

US President Donald Trump revealed in an interview with Israeli journalist Barak Ravid that over the past weekend, "more than 20 million barrels" of oil passed through the strait — the highest figure to date. A senior American security official confirmed the numbers, noting that on Friday night alone, 22 million barrels of oil were transferred through the strategic waterway.

Unlike the first American underwater drone captured by Iran, a Dive-LD model for which Washington claimed it had suffered a malfunction and carried no sensitive equipment, Tehran now claims this second drone was seized completely intact.

According to the Iranian claim, its capture, together with previous devices, provides Iran with the Pentagon's mine-clearing plans and critical autonomous hardware.

If verified, the United States will have a serious reverse-engineering problem on its hands, as these advanced systems expose sensitive military technologies to Iranian specialists. REMUS 600 drones are used by the US military for advanced maritime intelligence missions, and exposure of their capabilities could damage America's technological advantage in the region.

The report of the drone's capture is being published at a sensitive time, as President Trump is expecting further talks with Iran later this week as part of efforts to reach a new agreement with Tehran. The president emphasized that the Iranians are showing great interest in achieving a deal, but made clear that the proposals they are presenting do not meet his demands. "They are very interested in a deal," Trump said, "but their proposals are not acceptable to me. They have stretched the rope too far."

President Trump speaking to reporters (Photo: The White House)

When asked whether he is considering resuming military strikes against Iran, the president responded briefly and decisively: "I always think about it." According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Trump has informed his aides that he expects to resume the bombing campaign against Iran immediately after the midterm elections to be held in November.

From the other side, Iran's Revolutionary Guards, who have been running the country since fighting broke out in February, have made clear that they reject new compromise formulas and are well prepared for continued prolonged war. The Revolutionary Guards are demanding a return to a framework similar to the early agreement Trump formulated in June, which includes easing of oil sanctions, access to frozen funds, and cooperation in managing the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that his country has transmitted to Washington an orderly plan to open the strait within seven days of American approval. According to him, "the seven days will begin when the US accepts the plan," adding that "if they accept this seven-day plan, at the end of the seven days the Strait of Hormuz will be open." However, President Trump publicly rejected the Iranian proposal and told reporters: "They put forward a proposal but I rejected it."