US Navy Destroyers Pass Through the Strait of Hormuz Without Incident and Without Permission

At least two U.S. Navy destroyers have passed through the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since hostilities began on February 28. The passage took place as ceasefire negotiations were underway in Pakistan and was not coordinated with Iranian civil or military leadership.

According to U.S. officials, the purpose of sending several U.S. Navy ships through the Strait of Hormuz, into the Persian Gulf, and then back out was to increase confidence among skittish shipowners and their equally timorous insurers that the passage is safe: "'This was an operation that focused on freedom of navigation through International waters,' the U.S. official said."

The operation took place as Iran attempted to renege on its agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for ceasefire talks. Their gambit is based on the entirely believable notion that imbeciles staff the IRGC, and the government is not much better.

In a social media post on Tuesday discussing a pause in the American-Israeli war with Iran, President Trump said a two-week cease-fire was contingent on the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING” of the Strait of Hormuz.

On Wednesday, Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, said that the strait would be open to traffic “with due consideration of technical limitations.” American officials have said Mr. Araghchi’s comment about technical limitations was a reference to Iran’s inability to quickly find or remove the mines.

This excuse has to be taken as a way of backing out of the promise to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, otherwise it is an admission that dealing with the Iranians using any method other than "Rule .303" is a waste of time.

One of the ships, the USS Michael Murphy, left its AIS pinging to demonstrate that this was not a covert action and to prove that it had passed completely through Hormuz. It is hard to believe that the USS Michael Murphy, named for a posthumous Medal of Honor recipient in Afghanistan, was an accidental choice for this mission or the in-your-face electronic message.

US Navy destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) is crossing the strait of Hormuz today according to AIS data. https://t.co/sDJd0gW1id pic.twitter.com/Vp2yRt9IyC

— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) April 11, 2026

The Iranians, being Iranians, tried to mitigate the humiliation of American destroyers sailing through Hormuz in broad daylight, claiming they had ordered the destroyers out of the Persian Gulf.

BREAKING:

Axios reports that US navy ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz into the Arabian Gulf today.

However, Fars News claims a US destroyer turned back after Iran warned through Pakistani mediators it would be targeted within 30 minutes if it continued. pic.twitter.com/wjfcRHagfP

— Current Report (@Currentreport1) April 11, 2026

Sure. Is that warning in the room with us right now?

My theory would be that the passage of the Navy ships is also linked to demining efforts. President Trump said earlier Saturday on Truth Social, "We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others. Incredibly, they don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves."

The Navy's MH-60S mine-hunting helicopter can operate from an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The sortie through the Strait of Hormuz, into the Gulf, and back out would verify that there were no free-floating mines in that waterway.

UPDATE

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. https://t.co/BKHbMp7qpG

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) April 11, 2026

For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.

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