US military begins mine-clearing in Strait of Hormuz amid talks: "Two destroyers transit the strait"

[The Financial News] On the 11th local time, the United States began operations to clear naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, timed with the opening of talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran to end the war.
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement that day, saying, "CENTCOM forces have begun setting the conditions for mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz," and announced that two United States Navy (U.S. Navy) guided-missile destroyers had transited the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM explained that the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. and the USS Michael Murphy passed through the Strait of Hormuz and conducted operations in the Persian Gulf, describing this as part of a broader mission to completely remove mines laid by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
CENTCOM added that additional United States military assets, including underwater drones, will be deployed to the mine-clearing operation within the next few days.
Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, stated, "Today we began the process of charting a new route, and we will soon share this safe corridor with the shipping industry to facilitate the free flow of commercial traffic."
This is the first time US warships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since Washington launched its military campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Earlier that morning, US President Donald John Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social, "We are now beginning the process of clearing the Strait of Hormuz for the nations of the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others."
He went on to criticize these countries, saying, "Amazingly, they do not have the courage or the will to do this work themselves."
The timing of the United States military’s mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz, coinciding with the opening of negotiations between US and Islamic Republic of Iran delegations in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is widely seen as an attempt to maximize pressure on Tehran.
News that US destroyers had transited the Strait of Hormuz first emerged in US media reports. The Iranian Foreign Ministry, however, stated that one US destroyer maneuvered into the Strait of Hormuz but turned back after receiving a warning from Iranian forces.
So far, there is no indication that the passage of US warships through the Strait of Hormuz and the mine-clearing activities announced by the United States military are being carried out under prior coordination or mutual understanding between Washington and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Given that the Islamic Republic of Iran has used the threat of blocking the Strait of Hormuz—through which more than 20% of the world’s energy shipments pass—as both a tool of resistance against the US during the current war and as its main bargaining chip in negotiations, if the US moves are borne out in full, Tehran is expected to push back. Observers are watching closely how this will affect the talks.


june@fnnews.com Lee Seok-woo Reporter