As news cycles swirled with questions from a recent Pentagon press briefing, social media users have been sharing images they claim show 'drones' shaped like dolphins reportedly developed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). However, an analysis of the images and recent statements from US officials paint a more nuanced picture. While the Pentagon has addressed reports regarding Tehran's potential use of uncrewed or manned submarines and mine-carrying mammals, the specific images circulating online are not authentic.
Coverage comparison
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fielded questions this week regarding Iran's military capabilities to close the Strait of Hormuz. The exchange, prompted by a Wall Street Journal report on Tehran's contingency plans, led to a notable denial from the Pentagon, as well as a flurry of related imagery online. While the phenomenon of 'kamikaze dolphins' and 'dolphin drones' has been a subject of speculation for decades, the latest evidence suggests that a recent viral element—specifically, the photographs of the drone prototypes on social media—stems from artificial intelligence.
Key claims and evidence
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth this week confirmed that Iran does not have an active military dolphin unit, effectively pushing back on decades of speculation. However, he declined to confirm or deny whether the United States possesses its own 'kamikaze' versions. The comments come after a Wall Street Journal report cited Iranian officials suggesting Iran could use 'previous unused weapons' including 'mine-carrying dolphins' to attack US warships were a blockade to be implemented.
Amid the strategic discussions, AI-generated images began circulating, allegedly showing 'dolphin drones' or 'kamikaze dolphins' in an IRGC setting or near naval vessels. One image, which at a glance appears to show a grey robotic dolphin near a warship, was reportedly generated using Google's AI. A cursory analysis of the images reveals several abnormalities. In the case of the image from the arms exhibition, flags and ballistic missile naming conventions have been flagged as incorrect or containing errors, and a Google's SynthID detection tool indicates an embedded watermark, a marker of the company's generative AI image model, Nano Banana.
Military marine mammals: a real history
While the recent images have been debunked, the tradition of militaries using dolphins and sea lions for underwater detection dates back decades. The US Navy's Marine Mammal Program, which was involved in the Iraq War, trains animals to detect objects under water and protect ports. Commenting on the program, experts note that the navy does not use 'kamikaze' tactics, and animals are not harmed and are free to leave.
Iran's own history with such programs has faced scrutiny. Reports indicate that in 2000, Tehran purchased dolphins against the backdrop of a Russian trainer's program. While the mammals se lobed, with a lifespan of 20-40 years, those particular animals could still be alive, though there is no evidence they have been trained for military purposes. Should Iran pair these older reports with current technologies, it could represent a credible, if niche, threat—but as of now, it remains a matter of an unnamed report, not a verified visual.
Perspectives
The Pentagon's Stance: Secretary Hegseth has sought to downplay Tehran's capabilities in this specific domain, while remaining tight-lipped about the US's own classified operations. This framing suggests a need to contain the news cycle while avoiding discussions of sensitive US intelligence capacities.
Iranian Signaling: Iran's delay in commenting on their naval capabilities and its recent history of broadcasting missile opportunities against sanctions demonstrates that Tehran is open to showcasing its deterrence in provocative ways. Reports indicate Tehran's embassy in Hyderabad trolled Washington online with an AI-generated 'dolphin bomber.' The move plays on Western anxieties and could be a means of psychological operations, testing how easily such images gain traction on American news networks.
Independent Analysis: Press outlets have found multiple indications that the recent images are fake. This includes the presence of watermarks in the code of embedded images and a mix of contradictory gear and insignia on the purported dolphin units. The rapid spread of this story, in particular among accounts who highlighted the irony of a denial, underscores the current media landscape where AI-generated content and real-world military tensions increasingly trade on one another. As the situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains tense, distinguishing between the two grows ever more crucial.