US Begins Mine-Clearing Operation in the Strait of Hormuz
The United States and Iran held face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan as the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday the initiation of a mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz. The US military started the mine-clearing mission on Saturday and will deploy underwater drones and other assets in the coming days to eliminate obstacles to passage in this strategic waterway.
CENTCOM posted a statement on social media platform X on Saturday saying that the CENTCOM forces began creating conditions to clear the mines in the Strait of Hormuz on April 11, with two US Navy missile destroyers participating in the operation.
The statement mentioned that the USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy missile destroyers sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday and conducted operations in the Arabian Gulf as part of a wider mission aimed at ensuring the complete elimination of mines previously laid by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper stated, “Today, we are beginning the process of establishing a new shipping lane and will soon share this secure route with the shipping industry to promote the free flow of commerce.”
“The Strait of Hormuz is an international maritime passage and a vital trade corridor supporting regional and global economic prosperity. In the coming days, more US military forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance operation,” the CENTCOM statement read.
US President Trump posted on his Truth Social platform earlier on Saturday, saying, “We are now clearing the Strait of Hormuz to help countries including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and others.” However, the President did not reveal at that time that the US military had initiated the mine-clearing mission.
Following the outbreak of the war with Iran, the Iranian regime nearly blocked shipping in the entire Strait of Hormuz, threatening passing ships with mines. In nearly 40 days of fighting, US airstrikes have destroyed a significant number of Iranian mine-laying vessels.
On the same day that the US Central Command announced the start of the mine-clearing operation, the US and Iran held high-level talks in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. This was the first negotiation between the US and Iran since reaching a ceasefire agreement. The issue of free passage in the Strait of Hormuz will be one of the key topics of discussion.
President Trump had previously warned Iran before the ceasefire that if they did not open the strait, the US military would destroy all of Iran’s facilities, including power plants.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, transporting approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas. Disruption to shipping in the strait during the war with Iran led to a significant spike in global oil prices.