US Navy ships reportedly crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday afternoon as US-Iran ceasefire negotiations kicked off in Pakistan, though Iran denied the reports and threatened to attack any unauthorized ships in the strait. 

Axios, citing a US official, reported that several US Navy ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz. According to the report, the move was not coordinated with the Iranian Navy and was the first time US Navy ships made such a move since the start of the war.

According to the Wall Street Journal, three US officials confirmed that two US Navy guided-missile destroyers passed through the strait without issue in what was described as a “freedom-of-navigation mission.”

Minutes later, a senior Iranian military official denied the reported crossing of US vessels on Iranian government-owned state television.

Iranian media additionally released a warning that any US Military ship will be attacked within 30 minutes if it attempts to cross the Strait. According to State TV, a US vessel in the strait turned back after receiving the warning.

Axios reporter Barak Ravid disputed Iranian media claims that the ship turned back after the warning, stating that a senior US official informed him that the US had not received any such threats.

Later on Saturday night, the IRGC stated that military vessels attempting to pass through the strait would be met with a “strong response,” and said that only non-military vessels would be allowed through, under specific regulations.

This comes after President Donald Trump said that the United States is starting the process of clearing underwater mines out of the Strait of Hormuz.  

“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,” Trump stated, slamming the named nations for not having the “courage or will” to do so themselves.

He asserted that Iran is “losing big,” with US and Israeli strikes having decimated much of Iran’s military, navy, and air force capabilities. 

“The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may ‘bunk’ into one of their sea mines, which, by the way, all 28 of their mine dropper boats are also lying at the bottom of the sea,” Trump continued.

After Trump’s statements, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the US has begun naval operations aimed at clearing Iranian sea mines from the Strait of Hormuz in a post on X/Twitter on Saturday.

Two US Navy guided-missile destroyers, the USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy, successfully transited the Strait and began setting conditions for the mission to ensure that the waterway is completely clear of mines laid by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard 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,” CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said of the operation.