A security official in Iran has denied claims that several US Navy warships had crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday amid a fragile two-week ceasefire in the war that is currently in effect.
Speaking to the state-run broadcaster IRIB on Saturday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson denied the earlier claims, and pointed out that there had only been one "potential ceasefire violation" from an American destroyer warship.
According to a report from semi-official news agency Tasnim, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly monitored this warship—a major development that had a direct impact on the peace talks in Islamabad.
A warning was issued to the destroyer that it would be attacked if it were to enter the Strait of Hormuz, the report said, adding that this information was quickly conveyed to Iranian negotiators in Islamabad.
This is said to have had a direct impact on the peace talks, with Tehran's negotiators issuing a 30-minute deadline for the US warship to turn back.
The report alleged that it was this dual warning that led the warship to finally make a U-turn.
What were the earlier claims?
As per the earlier claims by a US official, multiple warships had transited the strait as part of an "operation that focused on freedom of navigation through international waters", an Axios report said.
Notably, one of Washington's key demands in the ongoing peace talks at Islamabad is the reopening of the strait.
In that regard, the official added that the warships had crossed the strait from east to west to the Gulf, and then turned and sailed back through it to the Arabian Sea.
However, the official denied that the US had received any such warning from Iranian naval forces, claiming that the move had anyway taken place without the coordination of Tehran.
Donald Trump's 'clearing' claims
This comes as US President Donald Trump continued with his Truth Social rhetoric on Saturday, claiming that Washington was already engaged in clearing mines from the strait "as a favor to Countries all over the World".
Reiterating that Iran was allegedly "LOSING BIG!", he also claimed that all 28 of Tehran's mining boats had been sunk.
Notably, Iran had earlier claimed that it was facing challenges to de-mining the strait, but has not yet refuted Trump's latest allegations.
