Two U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers pushed through the Strait of Hormuz on April 11, 2026, conducting a mine-clearance operation that the American military chose to announce publicly, a move designed to send an unmistakable message to Tehran: the waterway stays open.

The United States began implementing a blockade of all ships entering and exiting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun on Tuesday called the US move "dangerous and irresponsible".