Hegseth shoots down Iran 'kamikaze dolphins' — leaves US question open
War Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed claims that Iran possesses weaponized 'kamikaze dolphins,' stating definitively that Iran does not have such capabilities while neither confirming nor denying whether the U.S. does. The speculation arose from a report suggesting Iranian officials discussed reviving a Cold War-era program involving trained dolphins. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, reacted skeptically, likening the idea to a fictional movie plot.
- ▪Pete Hegseth said Iran does not have 'kamikaze dolphins' but would not confirm or deny if the U.S. has them.
- ▪The claim originated from a report that Iran discussed reviving a Cold War-era trained dolphin program.
- ▪The U.S. Navy has used dolphins to detect and mark underwater mines, but not as offensive weapons.
- ▪Iran reportedly acquired dolphins from a former Soviet program in 2000, though no evidence confirms their current use in military operations.
- ▪General Dan Caine compared the idea of weaponized dolphins to 'sharks with laser beams' from the 'Austin Powers' films.
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Pete Hegseth Hegseth shoots down Iran 'kamikaze dolphins' — leaves US question open The question stems from a report that Iranian officials discussed reviving a Cold War-era trained dolphin program By Morgan Phillips Fox News Published May 5, 2026 1:40pm EDT Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Hegseth says Iran doesn’t have ‘kamikaze dolphins’ War Secretary Pete Hegseth says Iran does not have weaponized dolphins as Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen.
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