US Military Begins Mine Clearance Preparations in Strait of Hormuz
The US military said it had begun "creating conditions" for mine clearance in the Strait of Hormuz, with two US warships reported to have passed through the key waterway.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X that the USS Frank Peterson and USS Michael Murphy had passed through the strait "as part of a broader mission to ensure that the strait is completely clear of naval mines previously laid by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps".
"Today, we began the process of establishing a new route and will soon open it to shipping to encourage the free flow of commerce," said Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM.
Earlier on Saturday, US President Donald Trump wrote on social media that the US military had begun clearing the Strait of Hormuz and that all Iranian ships designed to lay mines had been sunk. Iran’s state-run Nournews news agency described the claim as "fake news".