U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the United States cannot confirm or deny possessing weaponized “kamikaze” dolphins [1, 2, 4, 5].
The statement addresses rumors regarding the deployment of explosive-laden marine animals in the Strait of Hormuz. This ambiguity regarding military capabilities reflects the tension in the region and the secrecy surrounding unconventional warfare tactics [1, 2, 3].
Speaking during a Pentagon briefing in Washington, D.C., Hegseth said he was addressing questions about whether Iran was utilizing such animals for attacks [1, 4]. While he remained vague about U.S. assets, he was definitive regarding the adversary. "I can confirm they don't," Hegseth said regarding Iran's possession of kamikaze dolphins [2, 3].
The Secretary's comments were a response to circulating reports that Iran had developed a program to use dolphins as delivery systems for explosives [1, 2, 3]. Hegseth combined his denial of Iranian capabilities with his refusal to disclose U.S. secrets in a single response. "I can't confirm or deny whether we have kamikaze dolphins, but I can confirm they don't," Hegseth said [3].
This specific phrasing, the "neither confirm nor deny" stance, is a standard protocol for the U.S. government when dealing with classified intelligence or special operations. By using this language, the Pentagon avoids providing an adversary with a confirmed list of U.S. capabilities while still addressing public rumors [4, 5].
The briefing took place on May 5, 2026, as part of a broader effort to clarify the current security posture in the Middle East [2, 3].
“"I can't confirm or deny whether we have kamikaze dolphins, but I can confirm they don't."”
The use of the 'neither confirm nor deny' phrasing suggests that the U.S. government considers the possibility of biological or marine-based weaponization a classified matter. By explicitly denying the capability to Iran while remaining ambiguous about its own, the U.S. maintains a psychological advantage and strategic ambiguity in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane.
