Oil prices may soon be coming down after this move by U.S. Forces.
U.S. CENTCOM on Saturday announced the USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy will patrol the Strait of Hormuz to clear it from mines that were placed by the Iranian regime.
The move by U.S. CENTCOM come as JD Vance and top Iranian officials are in Pakistan discussing a peace agreement that would bring an end to U.S. military operations in Iran.
Read CENTCOM‘s full announcement here:
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces began setting conditions for clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, April 11, as two U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers conducted operations.
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 the strait is fully clear of sea mines previously laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
“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,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM.
The Strait of Hormuz is an international sea passage and an essential trade corridor that supports regional and global economic prosperity. Additional U.S. forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance effort in the coming days.
MOMENTS AGO: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announces that two Navy destroyers — USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG 121) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) — have transited the Strait of Hormuz and are operating in the Arabian Gulf to ensure the waterway is clear of sea mines laid by… pic.twitter.com/G5MDk4gMto
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) April 11, 2026
The Times of Israel reported Iran doesn’t have the capabilities to find the mines:
Iran cannot reopen the Strait of Hormuz for shipping because it’s unable to find and remove all the mines it placed in the waterway throughout the war, US officials tell The New York Times.
US officials say that apparent safe routes through the mines provided by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are limited due to Tehran’s careless mining of the strait.
The report notes that both the US and Iran lack the capabilities to remove nautical mines. Some mines, according to the report, are also able to drift, while it is unclear whether Iran documented each mine it placed in the waterway.
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