U.S. Destroyers Cross Strait of Hormuz as Trump Announces “Clearing Operation”

WSJ cites sources confirming passage of two U.S. warships amid conflicting Iranian denials and renewed tensions over navigation in the Gulf

Two U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are reported to have transited the Strait of Hormuz, according to three U.S. sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, marking the first known passage of American warships through the strategic waterway since the start of the conflict with Iran six weeks ago.

The vessels reportedly conducted the transit without incident, in what sources described as a freedom-of-navigation operation, and were not escorting commercial shipping. According to the same accounts, the mission proceeded without confrontation.

Earlier, Axios reported the passage of U.S. warships through the Strait, noting that the operation had not been coordinated with Iranian authorities.

As the reports circulated, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Washington is “starting the process of clearing the Strait of Hormuz,” describing the initiative as a service to countries such as China, Japan, and France, which he said “do not have the courage or willingness to do the job themselves.”

In the same message, published as American and Iranian delegations were preparing for their first face-to-face talks in decades, Trump said Iran is “losing badly,” while also highlighting the threat posed by Iranian naval mines in the Strait. “The only thing they have is the threat that a ship may hit one of their underwater mines,” he wrote.

Iranian media, however, denied that U.S. ships had crossed the Strait, reporting instead an incident in which a vessel reportedly turned back after Iranian forces allegedly threatened an attack within 30 minutes of passage. U.S. sources cited by Axios rejected that account, saying no such warning was received.

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