‘Kamikaze dolphins’: 5 things to know as US reacts to bombshell Iran waters report: ‘Like sharks with laser beams’

Kamikaze dolphins: Pete Hegseth dismissed claims that Iran has trained marine mammals for suicide attacks against US forces in the Strait of Hormuz.

A Pentagon briefing regarding Iran took an unusual turn on Tuesday when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had to refute an assertion that Iran has trained marine mammals to carry out suicide attacks against US forces and commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon on May 05, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia. Tensions remain high in the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S. and Iran traded shots on Monday after Trump said the U.S. military would open the strait for shipping, (Getty Images via AFP)

The question arises in light of reports indicating that Iran may consider using dolphins equipped with mines to target U.S. naval vessels and submarines. This proposal was initially reported by The Wall Street Journal last week and has since been reiterated on Fox News as well as by The New York Post.

‘Kamikaze dolphins’: Here's what US has said

1. During a press briefing at the Pentagon, alongside General Dan Caine, the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hegseth was inquired about the “reports of kamikaze dolphins” that have surfaced in various news outlets following Iran's assertion that it could deploy previously unutilized weapons in the ongoing conflict.
2. The BBC reported in 2000 that Iran acquired trained killer dolphins from the Soviet navy, which were specifically prepared to assault warships. The dolphins were allegedly able to differentiate between foreign and Soviet submarines based on the sound produced by their propellers, as per the report.
3. “I can’t confirm or deny whether we have kamikaze dolphins, but I can confirm they [Iran] don’t,” Hegseth stated.
4. Caine then interjected to express that he had not heard about the concept of kamikaze dolphins and humorously remarked “like sharks with laser beams,” in a nod to the 1997 movie Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, where Mike Myers’ character Dr. Evil laments his inability to obtain “sharks with frickin’ laser beams on their heads”, ultimately having to resort to laser-equipped “mutant sea bass” to carry out his plans against the film’s hero due to the fact that sharks were listed as an endangered species.
5. The Defense Secretary then remarked, “That’s what it is.”

US launches operation to reopen Strait of Hormuz

The press conference was held following the launch of an initiative by US forces to assist commercial vessels in navigating the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, with the first two ships, both American-flagged merchant vessels, passing through without incident.

Caine stated that the safety corridor in this crucial waterway for oil and gas transportation includes guided-missile destroyers, over 100 aircraft, and 15,000 service personnel.

Hegseth mentioned that the forces favor a peaceful approach to "guide" the more than 22,500 mariners stranded on over 1,550 vessels in the Persian Gulf, but are prepared to adapt if circumstances change.

“This is a temporary mission for us,” Hegseth stated. “We expect the world to step up.”