U.S. naval vessels received a warning from Iranian forces while operating in the Strait of Hormuz during efforts to clear sea mines from the critical shipping route, according to a report.

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The incident occurred as American military ships began operations to secure the waterway, a key corridor for global oil transport, following heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Radio exchange during naval operation

According to a report by the The Wall Street Journal, the navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) transmitted a warning message to a U.S. destroyer navigating the strait.

“This is the last warning. This is the last warning,” Iranian forces reportedly radioed to one of two American destroyers operating in the area.

The U.S. vessel replied that it was navigating in line with international maritime law and had no intention of challenging Iranian forces. The response also referenced the temporary ceasefire between the two sides.

“Passage in accordance with international law. No challenge is intended to you, and I intend to abide by rules of our government’s cease-fire,” the American ship reportedly said in its response.

US mission to clear mines

The operation took place as the U.S. military began preparations to remove naval mines from the strategic waterway. The effort is being coordinated by U.S. Central Command (Centcom), which oversees American military operations in the region.

Centcom said its forces had started setting conditions for mine-clearing activities in the strait. The command added that two guided-missile destroyers — the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. and the USS Michael Murphy — had transited the passage and were operating in the Arabian Gulf.

The ships are part of a wider mission intended to ensure the strait is safe for shipping after mines were previously laid in the area by Iranian forces.

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said the military had begun establishing a safe maritime route.

“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,” he said.

Iran denies US passage

Iran disputed the claim that American warships had moved through the strait.

In a statement posted in Persian on X, the IRGC navy said it maintained strict control over the passageway and denied reports that U.S. ships had entered it.

“The IRGC Navy fully and authoritatively manages the intelligent control of the Strait of Hormuz,” the force said.

It added that only non-military vessels were permitted to pass through the waterway under its regulations and warned that any attempt by military ships to cross would face a firm response.

Strategic shipping route

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, carrying a large share of global oil shipments.

Iran previously threatened to block or disrupt traffic through the waterway after the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iranian targets. In response, the IRGC laid naval mines and warned commercial vessels against using the route.

Those threats led to a sharp drop in shipping traffic through the strait and triggered a spike in global oil prices.

Efforts by U.S. forces to remove the mines are intended to restore safe passage and stabilise maritime trade through the region.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 13 April 2026

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Don't warn , sink them.

Oh I’ll just bet those sailors were pi$$ ing themselves ehh?not lol 😂 now Donald’s brain fart of closing the straights is ill advised in my view as seems to me it will exacerbate inflation and raise prices worldwide.

1 minute ago, Tug said:

Oh I’ll just bet those sailors were pi$$ ing themselves ehh?not lol 😂 now Donald’s brain fart of closing the straights is ill advised in my view as seems to me it will exacerbate inflation and raise prices worldwide.

Isn't this what they are trained to do?

8 minutes ago, Effective altruism said:

Isn't this what they are trained to do?

Swishhh is the sound of something going over your head…I was being sarcastic those ships and their crews can take care of themselves quite handily.bet they would love to swat some Iranian hard ware out of the sky or sea.

Don't worry Donald has a plan so carry on de-mining.

10 hours ago, FlorC said:

Don't warn , sink them.

Easy for the Iranian government to sink a helpless tanker, sinking a US destroyer is a very different matter indeed.

3 hours ago, CygnusX1 said:

Easy for the Iranian government to sink a helpless tanker, sinking a US destroyer is a very different matter indeed.

If the ukranians can , then so can the Iranians.

3 hours ago, CygnusX1 said:

Easy for the Iranian government to sink a helpless tanker, sinking a US destroyer is a very different matter indeed.

Yeah, thats why US warships have been sailing through the Strait of Hormuz with impunity this last month. 🤣

13 hours ago, Tug said:

Oh I’ll just bet those sailors were pi$$ ing themselves ehh?not lol 😂 now Donald’s brain fart of closing the straights is ill advised in my view as seems to me it will exacerbate inflation and raise prices worldwide.

Yeah who cares about the subjugation of the Iranian people and nuclear weapons in the hands of radical islamists.

As long as your beer stays at 45 Baht at Cheap Charlie's before you head off to Libs-R-Us-A-Gogo.

Right?

6 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Yeah who cares about the subjugation of the Iranian people and nuclear weapons in the hands of radical islamists.

As long as your beer stays at 45 Baht at Cheap Charlie's before you head off to Libs-R-Us-A-Gogo.

Right?

Don’t drink and I have little faith in a leader that killed an agreement that was handling the very problem this war is about.Furthermore I have no faith in a leader who alienated our allies started this debacle by ditctate not consensus with little to no regard for the consequences and lousy planning.I expect more quality from a chief executive.this whole thing is stupid,trump stupid.

21 hours ago, 1tooth said:

Yeah, thats why US warships have been sailing through the Strait of Hormuz with impunity this last month. 🤣

Assuming that’s sarcasm, you’re a bit out of date - “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.” source centcom.mil, press release of 11 April.

Israel was really smart in drawing in America in their war.

3 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

Assuming that’s sarcasm, you’re a bit out of date - “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.” source centcom.mil, press release of 11 April.

Those two ships, even if fully capable MCMV's, cannot ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines for a very long time.

Their instant arrival does not mean the instant detection and removal of any mine(s).

17 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Those two ships, even if fully capable MCMV's, cannot ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines for a very long time.

Their instant arrival does not mean the instant detection and removal of any mine(s).

Totally correct, I was just making the point that US warships can and have indeed passed through the Strait of Hormuz, despite an insinuation to the contrary.

So these Iranians threaten US Navy clearing mines in international water way. And slaughtered thousands of protesters. Who also blew up US marine barracks in Lebanon. Is there anything else you need to know about these people? High time to finish the task.