The United States military has stated that two of its destroyers crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday to begin mine-clearing operations in this strategically important waterway controlled by Iran, a claim denied by Tehran, amidst talks between the two countries in Pakistan.
In the evening, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, threatened to take “severe” action against any military ship passing through the strait.
The two ships operated as part of a broader mission to ensure that the strait is completely cleared of marine mines previously laid by Iranian Revolutionary Guards, said the US Central Command in a statement.
These claims were strongly rejected by the spokesperson for the Iranian armed forces, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, as reported by state television.
Speaking later in the afternoon, Donald Trump stated, “We have mine sweepers over there. We are sweeping the strait, and in addition to that, we are negotiating.”
In the evening, the naval command of the Guards assured that “any attempt by military ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz will face severe reaction,” according to Iranian state television.
“The Revolutionary Guards navy has full authority to intelligently manage the Strait of Hormuz,” the spokesperson added.
The announcement from Central Command comes during peace talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan, where the issue of traffic in the strait plays a significant role.
Navigation remains hindered in this strategic waterway for global trade and oil, almost blocked by Iran since the start of the war, despite its reopening being a condition of the ceasefire.
“Clearing”
“Today we began the process of establishing a new passage, and we will soon share this secure path with the maritime industry to encourage free movement of commerce,” said US Admiral Brad Cooper, head of Central Command, in the statement.
“Additional US forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearing efforts in the coming days,” the admiral added.
A few hours earlier, in a post on his Truth Social platform, Donald Trump claimed that the US had begun “the process of blocking the Strait of Hormuz.”
This operation was presented as a “favor to countries around the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others,” according to the American president.
“Incredibly, they don’t have the courage or the will to do the job themselves,” he assured.
Donald Trump also criticized the media, claiming that they are saying that Iran is winning the war against the US, “when everyone knows they are actually LOSING, and losing BIG.”
“The only thing in their favor is the threat that a ship might ‘hit’ one of their naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz,” he acknowledged, while claiming that “all 28 of their mine-laying ships are lying at the bottom of the sea” since American strikes.
Without providing details, the American president also asserted that “empty tankers from many countries are all heading to the United States of America to LOAD UP on oil.”
