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US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that American warships have begun operations to secure the Strait of Hormuz and remove sea mines allegedly laid by Iran as part of efforts to ensure safe global shipping.
He said the mission involves two guided-missile destroyers, USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG 121) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), which have passed through the Strait and are now operating in the Arabian Gulf.
USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG 121) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) 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. https://t.co/BKHbMp7qpG
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) April 11, 2026
The Strait plays a key role in global energy trade, and any disruption can have immediate effects on oil supply and international shipping.
US officials said monitoring will continue, with further updates expected as efforts progress to ensure stability and smooth maritime movement.
In an official statement, the Central Command (Centcom) said the operation is aimed at clearing the strategic waterway of mines and restoring safe passage for commercial vessels.
The move comes amid heightened tensions in the region. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most vital oil routes, with a significant share of global energy supplies passing through it.
Centcom commander Admiral Brad Cooper said efforts are underway to make the route safe again. “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.
Officials added that the operation is focused on removing sea mines believed to have been laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
US President Donald Trump said the United States has begun efforts to clear the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. “We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform, describing the move as “a favor” to countries such as China, Japan and France that “don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves.”
He also claimed that Iran is “LOSING BIG!” in the ongoing conflict, while noting that sea mines in the region still pose a risk. “The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may ‘bunk’ into one of their sea mines,” Trump wrote.
Amid the tensions, senior officials from Iran and the United States held direct talks in Pakistan on Saturday in an effort to ease the conflict, which has escalated violence in the Middle East and unsettled global markets.
(With inputs from AFP)
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