US Navy ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the start of the war — as Iran threatened to attack any US vessels that entered the strait.
“Several” American military vessels crossed the channel Saturday in a move that “was not coordinated with Iran,” Israeli journalist Barak Ravid reported, citing intelligence officials.
At least two were US Navy guided-missile destroyers, according to reports.
President Trump seemingly confirmed the opening of the passage in a Truth Social post that claimed Iran was “LOSING, and LOSING BIG!”
“We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others. Incredibly, they don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves,” Trump wrote.
“Very interestingly, however, empty Oil carrying ships from many Nations are all heading to the United States of America to LOAD UP with Oil. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Trump reiterated the sentiment in a follow-up post, saying: “The United States has completely destroyed Iran’s Military, including their entire Navy and Air Force, and everything else. Their Leadership is DEAD! The Strait of Hormuz will soon be open, and the empty ships are rushing to the United States to ‘load up.'”
The assertion serves as a massive message to Iran as it continues to demand sovereignty over the strait as a condition to end the war.
Tehran justified its threat to target the ships, saying the US was moving a destroyer toward Iran in a “possible cease-fire violation,” according to a report.
The fast-moving developments unfolded as US and Iranian officials met for negotiations Saturday in Pakistan.
Iranian officials reportedly warned Pakistani mediators that “if the vessel continues to move, it will be targeted within 30 minutes, and the Iranian-American negotiations will suffer,” a Foreign Ministry spokesperson told Khabar Network, according to Fars News Agency.
According to the official, Iranian armed forces immediately reacted to the armed destroyer that was moving from the port of Fujairah to the Strait of Hormuz.
No action was ultimately taken, and two US Navy guided-missile destroyers were able to pass through the channel.
“No issues were reported, and the move was described as a freedom-of-navigation mission,” the Wall Street Journal reported, adding the vessels were not escorting commercial ships.
The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran continued to closely monitor the vessel after the threats were relayed to the US via Pakistani negotiators.
“In all the talks we have had in Islamabad, our country’s positions and demands have been conveyed clearly and clearly,” the spokesperson told Fars.
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