The IRGC statement described this as a "complex intelligence and combat operation" carried out in the early morning, and called this vehicle "one of the smartest, most unmanned and modern submarines" of the US military.
Iranian state media channels such as Fars and Mehr then released images and videos recording the scene of the metallic gray submarine being salvaged from the water by Iranian forces in a relatively intact state.
The seized vehicle was identified as the large self-propelled dive Dive-LD model manufactured by the US defense technology company Anduril Industries. This cylindrical submarine is about 5.8m long, 1.2m in diameter and has a crude weight of nearly 3 tons.
With an outer shell manufactured using 3D printing technology and a direct electrical actuation system, Dive-LD can move at speeds from 2 to 7 knots/hour, submerge up to 6,000m and operate continuously underwater for about 10 days.
The first Dive-LD was handed over by Anduril to the US Navy in April 2025, with an estimated price of about 2.5 million USD each. Thanks to its flexible modular design, the ship can undertake many diverse military missions such as seabed mapping, preparing combat environment data, intelligence reconnaissance, underwater infrastructure inspection and mine clearance support.
In response to statements and images from Iran, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) affirmed that this is just an older model of the Dive-LD series and "does not collect sensitive data nor carries any secret sound tracking devices or radar". The agency also declared that US activities in the area's waters are still taking place normally.
On the manufacturer's side, a spokesman for Anduril Industries confirmed the loss of a Dive-LD vehicle operating in the area managed by CENTCOM.
Although the US side affirmed that the device does not contain sensitive technology, analysts believe that the seizure of a intact Dive-LD still brings great value to Iran, creating opportunities for Iranian engineers to study the material structure, autonomous software and underwater operating characteristics of the device.
