By Haifa Chairunisa
Two United States warships have reportedly navigated the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first known passage by American military vessels since tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated in late February.
According to The Wall Street Journal, which cited three US officials, the guided-missile destroyers completed the transit without encountering major issues. Separately, Axios reported that the operation was conducted without prior coordination with Iranian authorities.
US President Donald Trump said Washington has begun efforts to “clean up” the critical maritime corridor. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump described the move as a service to major economies such as China, Japan, and France, which he claimed had not taken similar action.
He also asserted that Iran had effectively lost the confrontation, though he acknowledged that sea mines deployed by Tehran continue to pose risks to passing vessels. “The only thing they have left is the possibility that a ship could strike one of their mines,” Trump wrote.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for global energy markets, carrying roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil supply. Despite the reports, US officials have yet to issue formal confirmation or comment, according to Agence France-Presse.
Maritime traffic in the region has been severely disrupted since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, effectively shutting down key shipping routes near Iranian waters. The reopening of the strait is believed to be part of the conditions tied to a recently announced ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
Iranian media reported that senior officials from both countries began talks in Pakistan on Saturday (April 11), aiming to de-escalate a conflict that has fueled instability in the Middle East and rattled global markets.
In an earlier statement, Trump also claimed that empty oil tankers from multiple countries were heading to the United States to purchase crude, although he did not elaborate further.