The United States says two of its naval destroyers have passed through the Strait of Hormuz as part of preparations to clear sea mines and restore safe maritime movement, but Iran has strongly rejected the claim, underscoring ongoing tensions surrounding one of the world’s most strategically important waterways. The disputed passage comes as Washington and Tehran continue face-to-face negotiations in Islamabad aimed at strengthening a fragile ceasefire reached earlier in the conflict.
According to U.S. Central Command, the destroyers USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy operated in the strait as part of a broader mission to remove mines allegedly laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. U.S. officials described the operation as an important step toward reopening a safe corridor for commercial shipping and stabilizing global energy markets affected by the conflict. However, Iranian military representatives denied that American vessels moved freely through the waterway, insisting that control over navigation remains firmly in Tehran’s hands.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a central issue in negotiations between the two countries because of its role as a gateway for roughly one fifth of the world’s traded oil and significant volumes of natural gas, fertilizer, and other essential goods. Iran restricted access to the narrow shipping lane after the outbreak of hostilities earlier this year, sharply reducing vessel traffic and contributing to rising fuel prices worldwide. Although Tehran has indicated a willingness to temporarily reopen the route, it continues to argue that maintaining leverage over the passage is necessary in any long-term settlement.
Diplomatic efforts underway in Pakistan represent one of the most significant direct engagements between the United States and Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The U.S. delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance, while Iran’s team is headed by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Discussions remain complicated by disagreements over Iran’s nuclear program, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and whether Israeli military operations in Lebanon fall within the scope of the ceasefire arrangement.
Iran has also proposed compensation for war-related damage and suggested introducing transit fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz as part of a broader settlement framework. U.S. officials have rejected the idea and maintain that continued Iranian control over the strategic waterway cannot be accepted. As negotiations continue late into the night in Islamabad, both sides are attempting to overcome deep mistrust that continues to shape the pace and outcome of the talks.
