On Saturday, April 11, 2026, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that two Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers had transited the Strait of Hormuz as part of the launch of a U.S. Navy operation to clear this strategic waterway of Iranian naval mines.
Photo: CENTCOM
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces began setting conditions for clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, April 11, as two U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers conducted operations.
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.
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,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM.
The Strait of Hormuz is an international sea passage and an essential trade corridor that supports regional and global economic prosperity. Additional U.S. forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance effort in the coming days.”
CENTCOM
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 11, 2026
This had earlier been announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on the social media platform Truth Social:
“(…) Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft apparatus is nonexistent, Radar is dead, their Missile and Drone Factories have been largely obliterated along with the Missiles and Drones themselves and, most importantly, their longtime “Leaders” are no longer with us, praise be to Allah! The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may “bunk” into one of their sea mines which, by the way, all 28 of their mine dropper boats are also lying at the bottom of the sea. We’re now starting 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 many others. Incredibly, they don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves. Very interestingly, however, empty Oil carrying ships from many Nations are all heading to the United States of America to LOAD UP with Oil. (…).”
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 11, 2026
However, the first to report the movement of the U.S. Navy warships was Axios correspondent Barak Ravid:
“Several U.S. Navy ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, a senior U.S. official tells me. The move was not coordinated with Iran. This is the first time U.S. warships have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war.”
🚨🇺🇸🚢 כמה ספינות של הצי האמריקני חצו את מצר הורמוז ביום שבת, כך אומר לי בכיר אמריקני
🚨🇺🇸🚢 המהלך לא תואם עם איראן. זו הפעם הראשונה שספינות מלחמה אמריקניות חוצות את מצר הורמוז מאז תחילת המלחמה— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) April 11, 2026
It is worth noting that, at the same time, delegations from the United States and Iran arrived in Pakistan to discuss ending the war. The U.S. delegation is headed by Vice President JD Vance, while the Iranian delegation is led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (parliament).
As the Islamabad Talks commenced, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, held a meeting with the Vice President of the United States of America, His Excellency JD Vance.
Commending the commitment of both delegations to engage constructively, the Prime Minister… pic.twitter.com/1QsTGhf2za
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) April 11, 2026
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with the Iranian delegation at the Islamabad Talks.
The Iranian side was led by the Honorable Speaker of the Iranian Consultative Assembly, Mr. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, assisted by Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of… pic.twitter.com/q4xTwkosgf
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) April 11, 2026
UPDATE
Following the collapse of U.S.-Iran peace negotiations, Donald Trump announced the forcible takeover of the Strait of Hormuz and its blockade. Naval mines are to be removed, and ships that paid Iran a transit fee are to be detained.
https://t.co/PSaltyXHlI pic.twitter.com/G005C1vbo5
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 12, 2026
UPDATE 2
CENTCOM announced that a naval blockade of Iran would begin on April 13 at 4:00 p.m. Polish time:
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, in accordance with the President’s proclamation.
The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.
Additional information will be provided to commercial mariners through a formal notice prior to the start of the blockade. All mariners are advised to monitor Notice to Mariners broadcasts and contact U.S. naval forces on bridge-to-bridge channel 16 when operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches.”
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 12, 2026