DUBAI: Several US warships have reportedly crossed the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the Iran war, a move that American military says was aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation in international waters.
According to a report by Axios, the US Navy didn’t coordinate the move with Iran, which has called it a ceasefire violation and threatened to attack the ships.
However, the US has denied receiving any warning from Iranian side, reported Axios.
According to the U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM), two guided-missile destroyers, the USS Frank E. Peterson and the USS Michael Murphy “transited the Strait of Hormuz and operated in the Arabian Gulf” on Saturday.
CENTCOM further stated that the move was part of an operation to clear the Strait of Hormuz of sea mines previously laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
“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,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM.
Furthermore, the US Navy is planning to deploy underwater drones to clear the mines in the coming days, the report added.
The development comes on a day when US and Iran held unsuccessful peace talks in Islamabad.
During the marathon 21-hour talks held throughout Saturday, both countries failed to reach a permanent agreement to end the war.
According to US Vice President JD Vance, Iran refused to accept US demands regarding the reopening of Strait of Hormuz and giving up near-weapons grade enriched uranium.
Iran, one the other hand, described the Trump administration’s demands “excessive” and accused the US of “breach of promises”.
Earlier, President Donald Trump posted Sunday on social media that the US Navy would “immediately” begin a blockade to stop ships from entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz.
After US officials ended peace talks with Iran in Pakistan, Trump sought to exert more strategic control over the waterway responsible for the transportation of 20% of global oil supplies — hoping to takeaway Iran’s key source of economic leverage in the war.
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump posted.
The president added that he has “also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.”
The president stressed that Iran’s nuclear ambitions were at the core of the failure to end the war and that the US was prepared to finish the war.
“(A)t an appropriate moment, we are fully ‘LOCKED AND LOADED,’ and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran!” Trump posted.
Agencies
US warships cross Strait of Hormuz for first time since Iran war: Report
