US naval forces have begun an operation to clear sea mines from the Strait of Hormuz, marking a new phase in Washington’s attempt to reopen one of the world’s most strategically vital waterways after weeks of conflict with Iran.
According to U.S. Central Command, two Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. and USS Michael Murphy, transited the strait on April 11, initiating operations designed to “set conditions” for a broader mine clearance campaign.
Rear Adm. Brad Cooper , commander of CENTCOM, confirmed that the objective is to establish a secure maritime corridor for commercial shipping.
The Strait of Hormuz is an international sea passage and an essential trade corridor that supports regional and global economic prosperity.
Under normal conditions, roughly a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil and a significant share of liquefied natural gas transit through the narrow corridor linking the Persian Gulf to global markets.
Since late February, however, that flow has effectively collapsed.
Following the launch of Operation Epic Fury, a US-Israeli military campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure, Tehran responded by closing the passage to US-Israel-linked ships.
The result has been devastating for maritime traffic. Shipping activity dropped dramatically. U.S. officials believe Iranian forces laid mines in the early stages of the conflict, in some cases without precise tracking, complicating efforts to remove them safely.
Additional US forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance effort in the coming days, it was highlighted. The navy plans to establish a new passage and share this “safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce”.
Meanwhile, the White House recently announced that the US military operations have effectively neutralized Iran’s submarine force and destroyed scores of Iranian naval vessels, including 16 warship classes.
In a briefing with reporters on April 8, US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the results of recent operations against Iran’s military capabilities as “decisive,” saying Iranian undersea assets and surface warships had been targeted and eliminated. Leavitt said US forces had struck more than 150 naval vessels and that Iran’s once‑significant submarine fleet was no longer operational.