According to Axios media, citing an American official, several US Navy ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. However, a senior Iranian military official, cited by state television, denied this information.
Donald Trump stated on Saturday, April 11th that the United States had started the “process to clear the Strait of Hormuz,” at the same time when several US media outlets reported that US Navy ships had crossed the same passage controlled by Iran.
“We are now beginning the process to clear the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to countries around the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others,” the US President wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Incredibly, they do not have the courage or the will to do the job themselves,” he assured.
According to Axios media, citing an American official, several US Navy ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. An operation meant to provide confidence for commercial ships to undertake the passage of the strait, Axios specified.
Trump claims Iran is “losing”
The Wall Street Journal later clarified that these ships were two missile-launching destroyers of the US Navy, quoting three American officials. However, a senior Iranian military official, cited by state television, denied the information that US ships had crossed the strait.
In his message on Truth Social, Donald Trump also criticized the media, claiming that Iran is winning the war against the United States, “when in reality everyone knows they are LOSING, and losing BIG.”
“The only thing in their favor is the threat of a ship hitting one of their naval mines” in the Strait of Hormuz, he acknowledged, while claiming that “all 28 of their mine-laying ships lie at the bottom of the sea” since the American strikes.
Talks in Pakistan
Donald Trump’s message coincides with the beginning of peace talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan, where the issue of traffic in the strait will be significant.
Navigation remains hindered in this strategic maritime route for oil and global commerce, nearly blocked by Iran since the start of the war, while its reopening was a condition of the ceasefire.
Without providing details, the US President also asserted that “empty tankers from many countries are all heading towards the United States of America to LOAD UP on oil.”
