[Salon] Iran Disputes U.S. Claim of Hormuz Transit, Says Warship Turned Back Under Threat

[Chas Freeman <cwfresidence@gmail.com>]

https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2043057470331818431?s=20

Iran Disputes U.S. Claim of Hormuz Transit, Says Warship Turned Back Under Threat U.S. vessels attempted a “very high-risk operation” to create the impression the strait is open — “to come through, take a souvenir photo, and say: ‘Hey, I crossed,’” said Nima Akbarkhani, speaking on state media, disputing U.S. claims that two warships, the USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG-121) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), transited the Strait of Hormuz. He said the ships used electronic warfare, hugged coastlines, and spoofed their identity as smaller local vessels, at times positioning behind other ships to mask movement. “As usual, it pulled every trick in the book,” he said. The vessels do not appear on VesselFinder, Kpler, or MarineTraffic. Akbarkhani said Iranian forces tracked the vessel, locked anti-ship cruise missiles onto it, and warned it to turn back within 30 minutes or be struck. He added IRGC naval forces saw it as “the best catch we’ve had in a while,” but were held back due to the ceasefire. His account directly contradicts U.S. Central Command, which said the two destroyers transited into the Persian Gulf and began operations to establish a safe maritime passage and “ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines.” CENTCOM said the mission includes clearing mines allegedly laid by Iran’s IRGC and preparing a route to “encourage the free flow of commerce.” Additional U.S. assets, including underwater drones, are expected to join in the coming days. USS Frank E. Peterson is part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, while USS Michael Murphy is independently deployed, according to USNI News.

Bloomberg, citing a regional intelligence official, reports that two U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday but turned back after encountering threats from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which also launched a drone toward the vessels. The incident occurred around noon Dubai time as U.S. and Iranian delegations were in Islamabad for negotiations, the official said. The account contrasts with U.S. Central Command, which says the destroyers successfully passed through the strait into the Persian Gulf as part of a mission to clear alleged sea mines and establish a safe maritime corridor, a claim Iran denies.