Overview
- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran does not have military dolphins and declined to confirm or deny U.S. “kamikaze dolphins.”
- A source familiar with current operations told CNN that U.S. forces are not using dolphins in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The Navy’s Marine Mammal Program, begun in 1959 under Naval ISR at NIWC Pacific, trains bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions to detect and mark underwater mines.
- During missions the animals locate objects and drop marker buoys so human divers can identify and clear the explosives.
- Reports that Iran fields or plans mine-carrying dolphins remain unconfirmed, and journalists note viral claims and videos overstate or misrepresent the programs.