US denies Iran has ‘kamikaze dolphin’ capability: Media reports

Recent media reports and official remarks have prompted discussion over the potential military use of marine mammals, including allegations involving so-called "kamikaze dolphins," though evidence supporting such claims remains unclear.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Iranian officials had suggested Tehran might deploy mine-carrying dolphins to target US warships. The report was subsequently picked up by major US broadcasters, including CNN and Fox News, amplifying the claims.

Iranian media outlets have rejected the allegations, describing them as "strange," while some government-affiliated accounts have responded with satire. The Iranian mission in Hyderabad, for example, shared an AI-generated image depicting a dolphin fitted with explosives, appearing to mock the reports.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to confirm or deny whether the United States possesses similar capabilities, but said that Iran does not have such technology.

While the "kamikaze" claims remain unverified, the United States operates a longstanding marine mammal programme that trains dolphins and sea lions for specific naval tasks. According to publicly available information, these animals are used in non-lethal roles, including detecting undersea mines and identifying suspicious objects in maritime environments.

Military use of marine mammals has been documented for decades, though officials have generally emphasised defensive and detection-focused applications rather than offensive roles.