US Warships Transit Hormuz; Mine-Clearing Operation Underway Now
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Washington: Two US Navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday as US Central Command said it began setting conditions to clear sea mines said to have been laid by Iran. CENTCOM named the USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy and said additional forces, including underwater drones, could join the effort.
The move follows President Donald Trump's posts stating the United States had begun clearing the strait and claiming Iranian mine-laying vessels were destroyed; CENTCOM said it will share a safe passage with the maritime industry soon. Media outlets including Reuters, AFP and Axios reported the operation had not been coordinated with Tehran, a point likely to affect upcoming diplomatic and maritime coordination.
More context
Timeline
- 1. Prior escalation: Conflict involving US/Israel and Iran raised Gulf tensions and concerns over maritime security.
- 2. Early April: Reports of Iranian-laid mines in the Strait of Hormuz increased alerts among naval and commercial operators.
- 3. Saturday, Apr 11: President Trump posted that the US had started clearing the Strait of Hormuz and claimed Iranian minelaying vessels had been sunk.
- 4. Saturday, Apr 11: CENTCOM announced USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy transited the Strait to begin mine-clearing operations.
- 5. Following Apr 11: Media reported the operation had not been coordinated with Tehran and CENTCOM said it may add underwater drones and share a safe passage with industry.
Why it matters
This situation could affect oil prices. The Strait of Hormuz is a key oil shipping route. If tensions rise, oil prices could too. Keep an eye on your gas prices.
Sources
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.
