US Navy guided-missile destroyers USS Frank E. Peterson Jr. and USS Michael Murphy successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, marking the first such passage since the US-Israeli conflict with Iran erupted on February 28, 2026. The move signals the start of a US-led operation to sweep the vital waterway of Iranian-laid sea mines, reopening a chokepoint that carries about 20% of global oil supplies.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the transit occurred without incident, with Commander Admiral Brad Cooper stating, “Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce.” Additional assets, including underwater drones, are expected to bolster the effort in the coming days.
President Donald Trump hailed the development on Truth Social, posting: “We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz,” framing it as a “favor” to nations like China, Japan, and France. He claimed Iran is “LOSING BIG!” in the war, downplaying remaining mine threats as the “only thing they have going,” where a ship might “bunk” into one.
The strait, off Iran’s southern coast, has been effectively blockaded by Tehran since US and Israeli airstrikes began, disrupting energy markets and spiking oil prices worldwide. Reopening it forms a key condition of a fragile ceasefire agreed earlier this week. Axios reported the operation proceeded without coordination from Iranian authorities, heightening tensions.
Parallel diplomatic efforts unfolded Saturday, with senior US and Iranian officials meeting face-to-face in Pakistan to negotiate an end to the month-long war, which has destabilized the Middle East and rattled global economies. Trump separately noted empty tankers converging on the US to load oil, though details remain scarce.
Recent updates from Reuters and AP confirm no further transits or clashes as of 8 PM WAT, but CENTCOM warns of ongoing mine risks. Analysts note Iran’s Revolutionary Guard admitted mine deployment last month, while satellite imagery from Maxar shows clustered hazards near Bandar Abbas. The operation echoes 1980s “Tanker War” tactics but leverages modern drones for safer sweeps.
This development could ease oil shortages, with Brent crude dipping 2% to $92 per barrel on the news, per Bloomberg data.
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