Iran forces seize US military drone, try to tow it away; released after US warship, chopper arrive

In a fresh face-off, America accused Iran of seizing one of its military drones on 29 August. USA claimed that Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard captured a sea drone in the Persian Gulf and tried to tow it away. The drone was released when a US Navy warship and helicopter approached the spot.

Iran's Shahid Baziar warship attached a line to the Saildrone Explorer drone in international waters. The ship then began towing the drone, which carries cameras, radars and sensors for remotely monitoring the sea. The USS Thunderbolt, a Navy coastal patrol boat, as well as an MH-60 Seahawk helicopter, moved to follow the Iranian ship.

US soldiers then contact the Iran ship to make it clear that the drone they had seized was American. After around 4 hours, the Iranians unhooked the tow line and left the area.

Tension between Washington and Tehran has remained high since US exited the JCPOA nuclear deal during Donald Trump's tenure as President. Western powers are still trying to salvage the deal.

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