US Military Strikes Have Severely Degraded Iran's Military Capacity, Pentagon Commander Tells Senate

General Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Iranian-aligned regional militias have been severed from Tehran's supply networks following intensive American military campaigns.

Speaking in Washington, Cooper asserted that Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis now lack access to Iranian resources and support. He characterized the United States as having "succeeded in less than 40 days in achieving its military goals inside Iran," with operations substantially weakening Tehran's regional reach and capacity to challenge American interests.

According to Cooper's testimony, the Iranian military establishment has suffered catastrophic damage. He stated that roughly 90 percent of Iran's defense industrial base has been destroyed and that the country will require years before it can reconstitute its military arsenal. The general added that the American campaign essentially "nullified 40 years of Iranian military investments within 38 days."

The Pentagon official emphasized that Iran "no longer possesses the means to threaten major regional operations or the freedom of air and sea movement of American forces." He noted that Tehran's diminished capabilities create openings for reshaping Middle Eastern geopolitics through strengthened partnerships among American allies and regional partners.

Despite the current operational pause, Cooper cautioned that Iran might attempt rapid military reconstruction. He stressed that more than 50,000 American military personnel remain deployed across Central Command's operational theater, with the US simultaneously maintaining diplomatic channels with Tehran while sustaining field preparations.

Cooper addressed concerns about the legality of the operations, affirming that all American military action against Iran had adhered to international armed conflict protocols. He characterized the present situation as a ceasefire, stating that Washington is "not currently engaging in hostile actions against Iran."

The commander's remarks reflect the broader American strategy of constraining Iranian influence through military pressure, economic sanctions, and regional coalition-building, even as diplomatic negotiations continue amid the existing tensions between Washington and Tehran.