Iran claims capture of U.S. soldiers, Pentagon denies

Tehran: Ali Larijani, head of Iran's National Security Council, stated that U.S. soldiers have been taken prisoner since hostilities began last week, accusing Washington of hiding them as killed in action. 

"It has been reported to me that several American soldiers have been taken prisoner," he wrote on X. "But the Americans claim that they have been killed in action. Despite their futile efforts, the truth is not something they can hide for too long."

US military denies claim soldiers taken prisoner by Iran

Soon after Larijani's post, a spokesperson for US Central Command, however, said no US service members had been taken hostage or prisoner by Iran.

"The Iranian regime ​is doing ‌everything it can to peddle ​lies ⁠and deceive," US Navy ​Captain Tim Hawkins said. "This is yet ⁠another ​clear example."

The conflict started February 28 with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and assets, followed by Iran's retaliation that killed six confirmed U.S. service members in a Kuwait drone strike—no missing or captured personnel reported by American sources.