US Central Command says its forces begin mine clearance mission in Strait of Hormuz

The US launched a mission to clear sea mines from the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Saturday.

"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," CENTCOM said in a statement.

USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG 121) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) transited the Strait of Hormuz and operated in the 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," it added.

“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,” Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said in the statement.

Additional US forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance effort in the coming days, CENTCOM added.

Earlier, President Donald Trump said the US has begun operations to clear out 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 said, adding all 28 of Iran's mine-laying vessels were "lying at the bottom of the sea."

His remarks came as US and Iranian delegations are holding Pakistan-mediated face-to-face talks in Islamabad, aimed at ending the broader regional conflict amid a fragile two-week ceasefire brokered earlier this week.