Pete Hegseth discussed Iran’s reported use of “kamikaze dolphins” in combat during a recent media briefing, stating that he cannot confirm or deny if the US is employing a similar tactic. When questioned about the deployment of marine mammals as weapons amidst the ongoing Gulf crisis, the US defense secretary mentioned that he cannot verify the existence of kamikaze dolphins but assured that they are not being utilized.
General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed surprise at the notion of kamikaze dolphins, likening it to the concept of sharks armed with laser beams. Hegseth concurred, nonchalantly shrugging in response.
According to reports, the Iranian government procured trained-to-kill dolphins from the Soviet navy back in 2000. These dolphins were trained by experts to engage in attacks using harpoons attached to their bodies and to conduct kamikaze missions targeting enemy vessels carrying mines.
