Iran rejects US account of warships transiting Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters "strongly" denied Saturday that U.S. vessels had approached or entered the Strait of Hormuz, rejecting a U.S. claim that two warships had transited the waterway.

According to the semi-official Fars news agency, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman of the headquarters commanding all Iranian armed forces, said that the claim by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Brad Cooper about "the approach and entry of U.S. vessels to the Strait of Hormuz is strongly denied," and "authority over any vessel's passage lies with the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Earlier on Saturday, CENTCOM said that two U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers -- USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy -- transited the waterway and began mine-clearing operations in the Gulf.

In a post on social media platform X, CENTCOM said that the operation was "part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines."

"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," said Cooper.

Iranian military analyst Nima Akbarkhani told the semi-official Mehr news agency that even the world's most advanced warship could not pass through the Strait of Hormuz undetected.

Akbarkhani added that the U.S. warship attempted a "high-risk operation" on Saturday using electronic warfare and identity disguise, but Iran's naval forces exercised restraint amid a recent ceasefire and issued a serious warning.

The developments come as delegations from Iran and the United States are currently in Islamabad for talks on easing tensions in the Middle East after a ceasefire was achieved between the two countries early Wednesday.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. assets in the Middle East, and tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz by restricting passage by vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States.