Iran claims capture of US unmanned Dive‑LD submarine as US says it malfunctioned

Tehran announced Tuesday that Iranian naval forces had seized the Dive‑LD, a research submersible operating in the Gulf of Oman, describing the capture as a “significant achievement” in protecting the nation’s maritime security. Iranian officials said the vessel, which was registered to a private firm based in Dubai, was intercepted after it entered Iranian territorial waters without proper clearance and was subsequently taken to the port of Bandar Abbas for inspection. The Iranian foreign ministry released a statement praising the crew’s “swift and decisive action” and warned that any future unauthorized incursions would be met with similar measures.

The United States, however, contested Tehran’s claim, asserting that the Dive‑LD experienced a technical malfunction on the day before the alleged seizure and had been forced to surface for emergency repairs. A spokesperson for the U.S. Navy said the submersible’s onboard systems indicated a loss of power and that the crew was safely rescued by a nearby commercial vessel. Washington emphasized that the incident was unrelated to any Iranian enforcement action and urged both parties to cooperate in investigating the equipment failure to prevent further disruptions to commercial and scientific activities in the region.