US Navy begins clearing mines in Strait of Hormuz as Iran points 30-minute ultimatum

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US Navy begins clearing mines in Strait of Hormuz as Iran points 30-minute ultimatum

4 min learnUp to date: Apr 12, 2026 01:19 AM IST

Two US Navy destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday to start mine-clearing operations within the important waterway, US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated, at the same time as conflicting accounts emerged from Iranian and regional sources and ceasefire talks continued in Islamabad.

USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG-121) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) at the moment are within the Persian Gulf after transiting the strait as a part of the US plan to “make sure the strait is absolutely away from sea mines”, in accordance with a CENTCOM information launch.

CENTCOM stated the destroyers crossed by way of the strait and operated within the Arabian Gulf, including that further US forces, together with underwater drones, would be part of the clearance effort within the coming days.

US President Donald Trump additionally confirmed the operation, saying on Reality Social that america was doing “a favor to Nations all around the world” by clearing mines from the strait. Trump additionally claimed that each one of Iran’s mine-laying ships had been destroyed.

Earlier, Axios, citing an unidentified US official, reported that two US Navy ships crossed the strait — the primary such transit because the battle started six weeks in the past — and that the motion was not coordinated with Iran.

Nonetheless, a regional intelligence official disputed the declare, saying two US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers tried to transit the strait however had been pressured to show again after threats from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which additionally launched a UAV towards the vessels.

Iranian media additionally rejected the declare. The semi-official Fars information company reported that Iranian forces monitored a US destroyer shifting from Fujairah towards the Strait of Hormuz and conveyed a warning by way of Pakistani mediators. The vessel turned again after Tehran warned it will be focused.

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Iranian state tv later stated its forces issued a 30-minute ultimatum to a US destroyer approaching from Fujairah, warning it to show again or face assault. A senior Iranian navy official subsequently denied that any US ship had accomplished the crossing.

Ceasefire beneath pressure

The event comes amid a fragile April 8 ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. The Strait of Hormuz, by way of which about 20 per cent of the world’s seaborne oil usually passes, stays successfully restricted, with Iran reportedly permitting passage solely to authorized vessels and charging tolls exceeding $1 million per ship, in accordance with The Wall Avenue Journal.

Transport exercise stays far beneath regular ranges. The Monetary Occasions reported that solely three supertankers crossed the strait on Saturday, in contrast with a pre-war each day common of about 135 vessels.

Pakistan is mediating between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad amid the two-week ceasefire, with hostilities now of their second month.

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Oil flows shift as Gulf provide tightens

The disruption has begun reshaping world oil flows. Trump stated on Reality Social that “huge numbers of utterly empty oil tankers” had been heading to america to load American crude.

US crude settled at $96.57 on Friday, buying and selling at a premium to Brent crude at $95.20, reflecting rising demand for non-Gulf oil.

Historic talks stay deadlocked

In the meantime, the Islamabad talks — the highest-level direct engagement between Washington and Tehran since 1979 — remained deadlocked.

US Vice President JD Vance led the American delegation alongside Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, whereas Iran’s 70-member group was headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and International Minister Abbas Araghchi, in accordance with Al Jazeera.

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The negotiations stay stalled over Iran’s sovereignty claims over the Strait of Hormuz, Lebanon, frozen Iranian belongings, and uranium enrichment, CBS Information reported. No settlement had been reached by Saturday night.

The ceasefire is about to run out on April 22, elevating considerations that tensions might escalate once more if talks fail.

(With inputs from businesses)

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