US Admiral Claims Iran's Threat Capability Dramatically Degraded by 90%

Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 14, 2026, asserting that US military actions have significantly degraded Iran's ability to threaten regional neighbors and US interests. Cooper stated that Tehran's defense industry has been set back by approximately 90%, effectively cutting off arms transfer routes to key allies such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas. He emphasized that the danger posed by Iran across all domains has been drastically reduced following recent bombings. However, this assessment contrasts with reports from Reuters and other outlets citing US intelligence sources, which suggest Iran retains significant missile and drone capabilities stored in underground facilities. Admiral Cooper declined to directly address these conflicting intelligence reports during his testimony. The statement underscores the US military's perspective on the tactical successes of its recent campaign against Iran, aiming to reassure lawmakers about the diminished threat level in the Middle East despite ongoing concerns about Iran's residual military assets.