The United States military command that oversees the Middle East (CENTCOM) has said that two of its ships have travelled through the Strait of Hormuz, a claim swiftly denied by Iran.
On Saturday, the command said that the two destroyers, the USS Frank E Peterson and USS Michael Murphy, had “transited the Strait of Hormuz and operated in the Arabian Gulf as part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines previously laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps
In a statement, US Admiral Brad Cooper hailed the ships’ presence in the strait as a turning point in the US and Israeli war against Iran, which began on February 28.
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,” he said.
The passage would represent a major shift. Control of the strait has been a major point of contention, given that a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas passes through the waterway, as well as large amounts of fertiliser and other goods
Iran effectively closed the narrow strait, save for pre-approved ships, in the wake of the initial US-Israel attacks in February. That, in turn, snarled both commercial and military traffic and sent global fuel prices soaring
On Saturday, a spokesperson for the Iranian military’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters swiftly denied the US statement
“The claim by the CENTCOM commander regarding the approach and entry of American vessels into the Strait of Hormuz is strongly denied,” the spokesperson said.
The initiative for the passage and movement of any vessel is in the hands of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran
The IRGC, in turn, vowed “a strong response” to any military ships passing through the strait
Meanwhile, the prospect of a prolonged and costly war is considered a political liability for Trump and his Republican party, with the 2026 US midterm elections quickly approaching.
Saturday’s talks came at the six-week mark of the war, and it is unclear whether the ceasefire will hold beyond its initial two-week period.
Speaking to reporters later in the day, Trump said the US and Iranian delegation remained in “very deep” talks. But he maintained he was ambivalent about the negotiation’s outcome
“Whether we make a deal or not, makes no difference to me, because we’ve won,” he said