Iran Allegedly Attempts to Capture US Drone

Facts

The US Navy has declared that it prevented the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy from capturing an American unmanned surface vessel (USV) in international waters in the Persian Gulf on Monday.
At 11 pm local time, the US Navy dispatched the USS Thunderbolt and an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter to demand the IRGC Navy release the USV Saildrone Explorer that was being towed.
According to the US Navy, the Saildrone Explorer operates commercial sensors, radars, and camera equipment for data collection and doesn’t store sensitive or classified information.
The four-hour incident was the first time that Iranian forces have allegedly targeted the US Navy’s Middle East-based 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59, which was established last year.
This comes amid growing tensions between both countries as talks over restoring the 2015 Iranian Nuclear Deal remain stalled.
Earlier on Mon., Iran’s Pres. Ebrahim Raisi set as a condition to a deal the ending of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s yearslong inquiry into man-made uranium particles found at undeclared sites.

Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Washington Post. This incident once again demonstrates Iran’s continued destabilizing, illegal, and unprofessional activity in the Middle East. The US naval forces remain vigilant and will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international laws allow while promoting rules-based international order throughout the region.
Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Fars. This latest incident shows that the illegal US military presence in the Persian Gulf threatens the region’s security and stability. The IRGC acted solely to prevent accidents in shipping routes, promptly releasing the USV to a US patrol ship and instructing it on security risks.