US-Iran Ceasefire: Two US warships reportedly transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, marking the first such passage through the narrow waterway since the war with Iran began. Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said that the United States had started 'clearing out' the strait.
According to The Wall Street Journal, citing three US officials, the US Navy guided-missile destroyers passed through the strait without any issues.
The operation was not coordinated with authorities in Tehran, Axios reported. However, Iran has denied any such reports.
'US Has Begun Clearing Out Strait Of Hormuz': Trump
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz," describing it as a favour to countries such as China, Japan and France that "don't have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves."
He said Iran was 'losing big' while acknowledging that Iranian mines in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's crude oil flows, continue to pose a threat.
"The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may 'bunk' into one of their sea mines," Trump added.
The Strait of Hormuz has been virtually blocked by Iran since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28. A fragile ceasefire agreed earlier this week was expected to include provisions for reopening the waterway, though implementation has remained uncertain amid regional tensions.
Senior Iranian, US Officials Begin Talks In Islamabad
Senior Iranian and US officials on Saturday began negotiations in Pakistan aimed at de-escalating the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Iranian media reported.
The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, met the Iranian delegation, headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir was also present during the meeting.