The US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Sunday said that two of its naval ships had begun efforts to clear sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a claim that was promptly denied by Iran, Al Jazeera reported.
CENTCOM said that 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 that the waterway is free of sea mines allegedly laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), news agency ANI reported.
“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,” Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said in a statement.
On Saturday, a spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters rejected the US claim, according to Al Jazeera.
“The claim by the CENTCOM commander regarding the approach and entry of American vessels into the Strait of Hormuz is strongly denied,” the spokesperson said. “The initiative for the passage and movement of any vessel is in the hands of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
The IRGC also warned of “a strong response” to any military vessels passing through the strait, as per the report.
Key trade route remains flashpoint as US-Iran talks fail to yield agreement
The Strait of Hormuz has remained a key flashpoint between the two countries, with Iran effectively restricting movement through the crucial waterway, allowing only limited vessel traffic on a daily basis.
“The Strait of Hormuz is an international sea passage and an essential trade corridor that supports regional and global economic prosperity. Additional US forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance effort in the coming days,” the CENTCOM statement added.
The developments come amid ongoing talks between the United States and Iran, which have so far failed to yield a breakthrough.
After nearly 21 hours of negotiations in Islamabad, US Vice President JD Vance said that no agreement had been reached, adding that the outcome was “bad news for Iran” more than for the United States.
Addressing reporters, Vance said that while several substantive discussions took place during the talks, they did not lead to a conclusion.
“We`ve had a number of substance agreements with the Iranians- that is the good news. The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement. That is bad news for Iran, much more than it is bad news for the United States of America.”
(With ANI inputs)