PANews reported on April 12 that, according to CCTV News, Iran stated that the US Navy destroyers USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy attempted to "infiltrate" the Strait of Hormuz the previous day. Iran further stated that the US warships used the ceasefire as cover to create a false narrative of "successful passage" and to influence the ongoing US-Iran negotiations.
Iran claims that the two warships attempted to impersonate Omani merchant vessels sailing off the southern coast of the Gulf of Oman, choosing a dangerous route extremely close to the coast and with a shallow draft, hoping to enter the Persian Gulf by "concealing" their movements and taking advantage of "negligence" by Iranian forces during the ceasefire. The Iranian Navy ultimately intercepted them at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. Unable to enter the Strait of Hormuz, the two destroyers were forced to retreat back into the Sea of Oman at the entrance.
On the 11th, the U.S. Central Command posted on social media that two U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz that day and operated in the Persian Gulf. The Iranian Armed Forces immediately denied the claims, emphasizing that they have complete control over passage through the strait.
