Lead

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Saturday that two American warships have entered the Strait of Hormuz to begin clearing mines laid by Iran, a move that Tehran swiftly denied and threatened to counter. The guided-missile destroyers USS Frank E Peterson and USS Michael Murphy are conducting the operation, according to CENTCOM, which said additional forces including underwater drones could join in the coming days.

"Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce," CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said in a statement cited by multiple outlets.

The transit — described as the first of its kind since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28 — comes as senior US and Iranian officials hold face-to-face negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital. The strait, through which roughly a fifth of the world's crude oil passes, has been effectively closed to much of international shipping since the conflict began.

Coverage comparison

Reports of the warship transit initially emerged from Axios, which cited a US official saying several Navy ships crossed the strait without coordination with Iran. The Wall Street Journal later confirmed, citing three US officials, that two guided-missile destroyers transited without incident in what was called a "freedom-of-navigation mission."

Iranian state media denied the reports outright, with a senior military official saying on state television that no US vessels had crossed. Iranian media also warned that any US military ship attempting to cross would be attacked within 30 minutes, and claimed a US vessel turned back after receiving the warning. Axios reporter Barak Ravid disputed that account, citing a senior US official who said Washington received no such threat.

The operation was not coordinated with Tehran, Axios reported, a claim not contradicted by CENTCOM's announcement.

Key claims

  • Mine clearance mission: CENTCOM said the two destroyers are clearing mines laid by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. The strait has been virtually closed to US-linked shipping since the war began, and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released a new navigational map on Wednesday directing vessels closer to the Iranian coast, citing the risk of anti-ship mines in the main traffic lane. (Reported by Al Jazeera, Dawn, and others)
  • Iran denies transit: Tehran denied that any US warship crossed the strait, with a senior military official rejecting the reports on state TV. Iranian media issued threats of attack against unauthorized ships. (Reported by the Jerusalem Post, The Hindu, and DW)
  • Trump's 'favor' framing: In a Truth Social post, President Donald Trump said the US was "starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World," including China, Japan, South Korea, France, and Germany. He added that those nations "don't have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves." (Reported by Dawn, TASS, Yonhap, and others)
  • Mine-laying boats claim: Trump claimed that 28 Iranian mine-laying boats had been sunk. CENTCOM previously confirmed striking 16 such vessels in an initial wave of attacks, but the destruction of the entire fleet has not been independently verified. (Reported by Al Jazeera and TASS)
  • Negotiations in Islamabad: US and Iranian delegations began face-to-face talks on Saturday, with a source telling DW that discussions have opened on a Lebanon ceasefire. Iran is seeking unfreezing of assets and sanctions relief, while Washington demands nuclear and missile concessions. (Reported by DW and Yonhap)

Perspectives

  • US position: Washington frames the operation as essential to restoring global commerce and reopening a vital waterway. Admiral Cooper said the goal is to establish a safe passage and share it with the maritime industry. Trump characterized the effort as a favor to allied nations that have not contributed naval assets.
  • Iranian position: Tehran denies the transit occurred and rejects the premise of US mine-clearance operations, warning that any unauthorized vessel will be attacked. Iranian officials previously said the strait was closed to US, Israeli, and allied ships but open to friendly nations such as Russia, China, and Pakistan.
  • Expert concerns: Analysts note that mine clearance is slow and risky. The US Navy has faced a "mine gap" after decommissioning its last Avenger-class countermeasure ships and phasing out MH-53E helicopters. Retired Romanian naval officer Alexandru Cristian Hudisteanu told Al Jazeera that mine-countermeasure vessels are "virtually sitting ducks" without protective screening.
  • Broader context: The transit and negotiations occur against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire that Israel's strikes on Lebanon have threatened. French President Emmanuel Macron said he urged Iran to restore freedom of navigation, adding that France is ready to contribute to the effort.
This is a developing story. The claims of both the US and Iranian militaries have not been independently verified, and the situation in the strait and at the negotiating table remains fluid.