Major update for Strait of Hormuz as US forces begin new operation | World | News
The US Navy has entered the vital global shipping route of the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since Donald Trump’s war with Iran began. The American Central Command (CENTCOM) said two US Navy guided-missile destroyers conducted operations to clear mines from strait which usually carries 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies.
Since the US-Israel war with Iran began on February 28, the Islamic Republic has shutdown the strait causing global fuel prices to rocket and sparking inflation fears across the US and Europe. Negotiations to end the conflict have kicked off in Pakistan today (Saturday) with an American delegation headed by US Vice President JD Vance.
In a sign perhaps of some success in the talks, CENTCOM released a statement revealing the USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past few hours.
The statement said the vessels 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.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said: “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.”
The CENTCOM statement added that additional US forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance effort in the coming days.
The United States and Iran began face-to-face negotiations on Saturday in Pakistan, days after a fragile two-week ceasefire was announced. The war has killed thousands of people and shaken global markets as it entered its seventh week.
Iran’s state-run news agency said three-party talks including Pakistan began after Iranian preconditions, including a reduction in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, were met, and after US and Iranian officials met separately with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The US delegation led by JD Vance and the Iranian one led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf were discussing how to advance the ceasefire already threatened by deep disagreements and Israel‘s continued attacks against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, whose health ministry said the death toll had surpassed 2,000.
Iran doubled down on parts of its earlier proposal, with its delegation telling Iranian state television it had presented some of the plan’s ideas as “red lines” in meetings with Sharif. Those included compensation for damage caused by US-Israeli strikes that launched the war and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
