Washington: Iran maintains "considerable tactical capability" to target US forces despite being strategically weakened since Oct. 7, a top US military nominee told senators Tuesday. Navy Vice Adm. Charles Cooper II, nominated to lead US Central Command (CENTCOM), warned that Iran still poses severe threats to American troops worldwide during his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing.
According to Anadolu Agency, Cooper described Iran as "the number one source of instability in the region" and "sponsor of terror throughout the world," agreeing with a senator who said the country has been "terrorizing America and the civilized world for 46 years." He said the US needs to be "in a three-point stance, ready to go every single day" against the Iranian threat.
Cooper noted that Iran's tactical capabilities remain significant, citing Iran's retaliatory attacks on the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. He mentioned that, at the strategic level, Iran has been weakened since the events of Oct. 7, while at the tactical level, they have been degraded. The admiral acknowledged that US military actions against Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend benefited Israeli operations, although he declined to provide specifics.
Cooper also addressed the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, emphasizing the importance of establishing a deterrent posture and monitoring Iranian activity. He affirmed his commitment to maintaining the status quo if confirmed. Maj. Gen. Esmaeil Kowsari indicated that the Iranian parliament decided to close the Strait after US attacks, but the final decision rests with the Supreme National Security Council, and it seems unlikely due to a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran.
US President Donald Trump stated that "China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran," suggesting continued navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for Iran's petroleum shipments to China.
Cooper highlighted that stability in Syria directly impacts US security by helping suppress threats from the ISIS (Daesh) terror group. He stated that "ISIS thrives in chaos" and emphasized the importance of stability in Syria for US security. He mentioned that the Syrian government shares the US counter-ISIS mission perspective and that US efforts in Syria will be diplomatically led.
The nominee also discussed the US-Houthi ceasefire, agreed upon in May, and the challenges posed by the Yemeni group. He assessed that the Houthis are likely to become a persistent problem for the US in the future.