WASHINGTON (TNND) — The U.S. started to clear sea mines from the Strait of Hormuz as part of a mission to restore the safe flow of maritime traffic amid the conflict with Iran.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said operations began on Saturday, with two Navy guided-missile destroyers — the USS Frank E. Peterson and the USS Michael Murphy — transiting the strait and operating in the Arabian Gulf.
“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,” Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said on X.
The effort follows concerns that mines had been laid in the waterway, which connects the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is a key transit route for global oil shipments.
CENTCOM said additional assets, including underwater drones, are expected to join the operation in the coming days as part of the clearance effort.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, with a significant portion of global energy supplies passing through it daily. Disruptions in the area have raised concerns about global trade and energy markets.
The announcement came just hours after President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to say the U.S. was in the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz “as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany,” and several others.
“Incredibly, they don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves,” the president wrote.
Trump also said “massive numbers” of “completely” empty oil tankers were heading to the U.S. to “load up” with oil and gas.
“Massive numbers of completely empty oil tankers, some of the largest anywhere in the World, are heading, right now, to the United States to load up with the best and ‘sweetest’ oil (and gas!) anywhere in the World,” Trump wrote.”We have more oil than the next two largest oil economies combined — and higher quality. We are waiting for you. Quick turnaround!” he added.
Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as one of its most significant strategic moves in the conflict, disrupting global shipping lanes and sharply limiting the flow of oil, natural gas, and fertilizer.
Commercial vessels have largely avoided the narrow waterway, with the disruption driving up energy prices. Brent crude, the international benchmark, was trading at about $97 on Friday — an increase of more than 30% since the conflict began in late February.
Before the war, roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil moved through the strait, with more than 100 ships passing through daily, many bound for Asian markets. Since a ceasefire took hold, only a dozen vessels have been recorded transiting the route, according to the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance was in Pakistan on Saturday for high-level talks aimed at advancing peace efforts with Iran.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.