Iran Says It Seized US Underwater Vehicle in Strait of Hormuz
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington’s economic pressure campaign against Iran was producing results.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said on Sunday that it had seized a US Remus 600 autonomous underwater vehicle operating in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing it of conducting surveillance in the strategic waterway.
According to Iranian state media, the IRGC Navy said it captured the unmanned underwater vehicle through intelligence and electronic warfare capabilities. Iranian specialists examined the vehicle and attempted to recover its data.
The reported seizure comes amid continued tensions between Iran and the United States and heightened military activity around the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran Warns Against Renewed US Attack
Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said the country’s armed forces were fully prepared for any renewed US attack.
According to Iranian state media, Akraminia said Iran was prepared for confrontation and warned that the United States would face greater damage if it launched another attack against Iran.
Separately, Iranian Army Commander-in-Chief Amir Hatami said the conflict with the United States remained at a “critical and decisive” stage.
Hatami said Iran had achieved military gains but needed to consolidate them, while warning that Iranian forces remained prepared for further confrontation.
He also rejected the idea that Iran’s government would collapse following attacks and assassinations carried out during the conflict, describing such expectations as a miscalculation by its adversaries.
Hatami further said Iran would not accept a situation in which it was prevented from conducting trade while foreign powers used strategic waterways in the region.
Iran Links Hormuz Reopening to Conditions
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would depend on conditions set by Tehran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Araghchi said Iran had presented its position to mediators during diplomatic contacts on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He said Tehran had also submitted diplomatic proposals but had not yet received a formal response through the mediators. Iran was waiting for a definitive US position before deciding its next steps.
Iran has indicated that it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a specified period if the United States reduces military pressure and lifts its economic blockade. US President Donald Trump, however, has publicly rejected the Iranian proposal.
Araghchi said Iran continued to believe that diplomacy was the only way to resolve the conflict, while maintaining that Tehran would not surrender what it considers its legitimate rights.
US Expands Economic Pressure on Iran
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington’s economic pressure campaign against Iran was producing results.
Bessent said the United States had imposed targeted financial measures against banks and aviation service providers and had engaged with governments around the world to increase pressure on Tehran.
He said Turkey and Oman had announced the suspension of Mahan Air flights, while the United Arab Emirates had halted flights by Iranian airlines. He also claimed that major commercial banks in the UAE and Turkey had stopped transactions with Iran.
Bessent said the economic pressure had contributed to difficulties for Iran, including a sharp decline in the value of its currency.
IRGC Warns US Warships Could Be Targeted
The IRGC Navy has also warned that US warships, including vessels operating in the Indian Ocean, could be targeted if Washington launches another war against Iran.
The warning comes as tensions remain high across the Gulf and surrounding waterways, with the Strait of Hormuz continuing to be a major point of contention between Tehran and Washington.
Oman Calls for Safe Navigation
Oman has urged Iran and the United States to resolve their differences through dialogue while reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said at the United Nations General Assembly that the conflict had affected regional security, shipping and trade.
He said Oman supported the protection of navigation through the strait in accordance with international law and called on all parties to cooperate to ensure safe passage through the strategic waterway.
Oman has also continued diplomatic contacts with Iranian officials, with discussions focusing on regional developments, maritime security and efforts to find practical solutions to the crisis.
Conflict Disrupts Regional Trade
The prolonged conflict has severely disrupted commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.
Shipping data has shown a sharp decline in vessel traffic through the waterway compared with levels before the conflict. The disruption has raised concerns over energy supplies, transportation costs and the wider global economy.
Iran has said it is prepared to negotiate over the conflict and the reopening of the strait, while insisting that any agreement must respect its stated conditions and national interests.
The United States, meanwhile, continues to maintain economic and military pressure on Tehran, while regional countries have called for diplomacy and the restoration of safe maritime navigation.
