Two Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers crossed the Strait of Hormuz and moved into the Persian Gulf, signaling a determined effort to clear mines and set a safe path for commercial shipping.

The two ships, the USS Frank E. Peterson and the USS Michael Murphy, had crossed the strait earlier today and are now sailing in the Persian Gulf, Axios reported that the move was not coordinated with Tehran, as negotiations began earlier today.

It marks the first major U.S. move in the area since a two week ceasefire in the war was announced on Tuesday, April 7.

“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 head Adm. Brad Cooper said in the release. President Donald Trump also confirmed the start of the mission in a post on social media.

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It is not clear how long the mission will last or how many mines have been laid in the waterway. The uncertainty underscores the risk that continues to loom over a corridor that many nations depend on for energy and goods.

On Friday, the New York Times, citing American officials, reported that Iran has lost track of some of the mines it laid in the strait.

Iran left a narrow path in the already narrow waterway open, but American officials said some mines were laid in a way that let them drift. The United States retired its minesweepers and has turned to its littoral combat ships to fill the mine clearance role.

However two of the three littoral combat ships that had been operating in the CENTCOM area of responsibility were moved out of the region in March and sent to Singapore.

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CENTCOM said that additional U.S. forces, including underwater drones, will join the mission in the near future. It’s not clear what other surface ships might participate.

The U.S. Navy still has several ships positioned around the Middle East that had been participating in the war.

Seven other guided-missile destroyers are operating in the Arabian Sea, according to USNI News’ fleet tracker. One, the USS Spruance, is traveling as part of the USS Abraham Lincoln’s carrier strike group.

Additionally, the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group, carrying a Marine Expeditionary Unit, is also in the area. Two more destroyers are sailing in the Red Sea.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping lane for oil as well as important chemicals relied upon by nations around the world. The weeks-long war has disrupted shipping through it even prior to the laying of mines, causing energy prices to spike.

Mines pose an extreme risk not just to commercial ships in the waterway but military ones as well.

During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the cruiser the USS Princeton hit two mines while sailing through the Persian Gulf. Three crewmembers were injured and the ship was moved out of the war for repairs.

The crossing of the strait comes as American and Iranian negotiators met in Islamabad, Pakistan for continued ceasefire talks.

Pakistan, which is serving as the main mediator between the two nations, said on its state TV that the top negotiators — American Vice President JD Vance, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi — met face to face, with Pakistani army chief Asim Munir in the room with them. Talks prior to the start of the war had mediators ferrying messages between the parties in different rooms.

The status of the Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of contention in the talks, as well as the continued bombing of Lebanon. At least two rounds of talks have taken place so far, according to Iranian media reports.

The presence of U.S. surface ships in the region coincides with a broader push to stabilize sea lanes and deter attempts to disrupt international commerce.

The mission to clear mines aligns with a longstanding objective to keep critical channels open, particularly for energy supplies that nations rely on for manufacturing and growth.

The operation also signals a clear demonstration of resolve from U.S. leadership in defending and sustaining global trade routes, especially as geopolitical negotiations continue around Islamabad.

President Trump has consistently underscored his priority of secure and predictable access to international markets, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has stressed a robust approach to deterring aggression and protecting essential maritime lanes.

Together they have shaped a posture that emphasizes readiness, resilience, and the swift ability to respond to threats in key theaters.

In this context, the current movement by the destroyers reflects a practical step in a broader strategy to safeguard strategic chokepoints and to support allied efforts aligned with national security interests.

The upcoming days will reveal how the allied and U.S. naval teams coordinate with partners and what additional resources may be deployed to expedite mine clearance while maintaining pressure on any actors seeking to destabilize the region.

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