IRGC Repeats Claim It Seized A Second American Underwater Drone In Hormuz, This Time An “Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish”

“The strait is not only not open; it is a hunting ground for the IRGC navy for American submarines,” said spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naeini. “The second capture has been towed, this time the Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish,” he added, calling the drone “not just a capture; it is a technological and intelligence trophy.”

The IRGC had previously stated that the captured drone was a REMUS 600 and that its specialists were extracting the vehicle’s data; in the new statement the spokesperson mentioned a different drone model, without explaining the change.

The U.S. military has rejected Iran’s claim. Earlier, U.S. Central Command denied the capture of any American underwater vehicle, calling the claim false.

The statement comes at the height of the clash over the Strait of Hormuz: President Donald Trump says the United States has “total control” of the strait, while Tehran insists it remains closed until the “economic war” ends.