Iran says it has ‘suicide drone boats’ to block Strait of Hormuz, shows underground ‘missile city’

Iranian state television released footage that it said was filmed inside an underground weapons complex described by authorities as a “missile city”.

The video showed long tunnels lined with naval drones, anti-ship missiles and sea mines.

Additional clips appeared to show some of the weapons being launched, though it remains unclear when the footage was recorded or whether the facility has since been targeted in strikes by the United States or Israel.

One still image from the material showed a naval drone mounted on a trailer inside a tunnel beneath a portrait of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The naval drones, also known as unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), have already been used in attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, according to maritime authorities.

These small craft travel on or just below the water’s surface and carry explosives designed to detonate on impact.

On March 1, a crude oil tanker named MKD VYOM, registered in the Marshall Islands, was struck about 44 nautical miles off the coast of Oman.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said an unmanned surface vessel hit the ship just above the waterline, triggering an explosion and fire in the engine room. One crew member was killed in the incident.

Days later, another tanker — the Bahamas-flagged Sonangol Namibe — was struck while anchored near Iraq’s Khor al Zubair port. The vessel’s operator, Sonangol Marine Services, said all 23 crew members were safe and declined to confirm the identity of the attacking craft while investigations continued.

Video circulating online appeared to show a small speedboat-like object racing towards the tanker before slamming into its side, causing a large explosion and thick smoke.

Maritime authorities say naval drones have been used in at least two attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf region since the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran escalated.

The tactic mirrors the use of similar vessels by Ukraine against Russian forces and by Iran-backed Houthi militants targeting shipping in the Red Sea.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to halt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

Iranian authorities have also warned that continued conflict could push global oil prices as high as $200 per barrel, as attacks on merchant ships have already slowed traffic through the strait significantly.