Donald Trump said the United States military has begun operations to clear the Strait of Hormuz and claimed Iranian minelaying vessels had been destroyed, as tensions continue to disrupt one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes.

“We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Saturday, adding that all 28 Iranian “mine dropper boats” were “lying at the bottom of the sea.”

Minutes before the post, reports began circulating about the presence of US naval vessels in the strait. An Axios journalist, citing a US official, said several American ships had crossed the waterway earlier in the day, though Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting later reported a denial from an Iranian military official regarding the developments.

Trump has repeatedly stated that US forces had already degraded Iran’s naval and air capabilities and disrupted its ballistic missile and nuclear programs during the conflict. Independent confirmation of the latest claims was not immediately available.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor for roughly a fifth of global oil shipments, has been effectively constrained in recent weeks by fears of Iranian attacks on commercial vessels, contributing to volatility in global energy markets. Even though most crude passing through the waterway does not head to the United States, US gasoline prices have risen amid supply concerns.

The developments come as representatives from the United States and Iran began talks hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad on Saturday under a fragile ceasefire aimed at easing the conflict and stabilizing regional shipping lanes.