West Asia conflict intensifies: Iran seizes US submarine; US says five oil tankers destroyed

TEHRAN: Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, Iran has claimed that it seized an advanced US submarine near the Strait of Hormuz. The claim was reported by the official news agency of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Iran said the unmanned submarine, named ‘Dive-LD’, was seized near the entrance to the strait. It also released footage purportedly showing the submarine.

However, the US Central Command said the submarine was inoperable and did not contain any classified radar or sonar technology or strategic information. The US has not confirmed whether the submarine shown in the footage is the one Iran claims to have seized.

Meanwhile, the US said it had destroyed five Iranian oil tankers. It also said that a total of 10 Iranian tanker vessels had been destroyed within a week. As part of efforts to tighten economic sanctions against Iran, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 27 Iranian airlines.

Iran, meanwhile, claimed that it had shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone.

Dive-LD

• An autonomous submarine manufactured by US company Anduril Industries
• Measures 19 feet in length and weighs three tonnes
• Capable of operating at depths of up to 6,000 metres (19,700 feet)
• Can operate continuously for up to 10 days without human assistance and for several weeks during special missions

Attacks in the Gulf

Iran’s IRGC naval forces attacked 10 vessels in the Persian Gulf, including two US ships, and another 10 vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. One sailor was killed and another crew member was reported missing after an attack on an oil tanker anchored off the coast of Dubai.

The vessel targeted was the ‘Hercules Star’, which was sailing under the Gibraltar flag. Tehran also launched a missile attack targeting a US military base in Jordan. No casualties were reported.