Brad Cooper is a U.S. Navy Admiral serving as Commander of U.S. Central Command. Known for overseeing U.S. military posture across the Middle East, including naval operations in the Persian Gulf and countering Iranian threats. Recently, Cooper has led military operations against Iran, enforced a blockade on Iranian shipping, and coordinated regional security engagements with Gulf states, Israel, and Lebanon. Last updated 23 hours ago
Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander: Iranian forces launched dozens of missiles and drones at neighboring Gulf states this week.
He added that seven commercial ships were deliberately attacked by Iran over the same period, leaving around ten civilian crew members dead, wounded, or missing.
"Over the past seven days, Iran has intentionally targeted civilians across the region by attacking seven commercial ships resulting in nearly a dozen civilian crew members killed, missing, or injured. Iranian forces have also launched dozens of missiles and drones toward neighboring Gulf countries. U.S. forces are holding Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression that continues to endanger innocent lives."
Oil is flowing like never before, thanks to the awesome Power of the United States Military. A special salute to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, and Commander of the United States Ce...
Trump:
Oil is flowing like never before, thanks to the awesome Power of the United States Military. A special salute to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, and Commander of the United States Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper. Because of them, and all members of the Most Powerful Military anywhere in the World, BY FAR, the Strait of Hormuz is open to ALL Ship traffic except for Iran — and that is because of their lying, violent, malicious leadership, which is taking them down the path of TOTAL DESTRUCTION. We will therefore have a FULL Blockade, but only on Ships coming to and from Iranian ports, or carrying anything have to do with Iranian cargo. Based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership, I have decided to replace the 20% United States Reimbursement Fee with Trade and Investment Deals that the various Gulf States will be making into the United States.
Those Investments will be MASSIVE but, at the same time, extraordinarily good for them, and their future. As everyone is aware, we have the largest Dollar Investment into the United States, of any Country in History, but these new Investments will make that Number even larger, and we will see Factories, Plants, and Equipment pour into the United States at Historic levels, which will create additional millions of High Paying AMERICAN Jobs! America is WINNING again, winning like never before. The days of Iran killing hundreds of thousands of people, including 52,000 protestors, are OVER and, most importantly, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP
“Oil is flowing like never before, thanks to the awesome Power of the United States Military.
A special salute to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, and Commander of the Unite...
President Trump:
“Oil is flowing like never before, thanks to the awesome Power of the United States Military.
A special salute to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, and Commander of the United States Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper.
Because of them, and all members of the Most Powerful Military anywhere in the World, BY FAR, the Strait of Hormuz is open to ALL Ship traffic except for Iran.
That is because of their lying, violent, malicious leadership, which is taking them down the path of TOTAL DESTRUCTION.
We will therefore have a FULL Blockade, but only on Ships coming to and from Iranian ports, or carrying anything having to do with Iranian cargo.
Based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership, I have decided to replace the 20% United States Reimbursement Fee with Trade and Investment Deals that the various Gulf States will be making into the United States.
Those Investments will be MASSIVE but, at the same time, extraordinarily good for them and their future.
As everyone is aware, we have the largest Dollar Investment into the United States of any Country in History.
These new Investments will make that Number even larger, and we will see Factories, Plants, and Equipment pour into the United States at Historic levels, creating additional millions of High Paying AMERICAN Jobs!
America is WINNING again, winning like never before.
The days of Iran killing hundreds of thousands of people, including 52,000 protestors, are OVER.
Most importantly, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!
“Today, I was proud to recognize American Soldiers and Sailors assigned to a Joint Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) unit in Bahrain for their exceptional performance in shooting down 14 Iranian one-way attack drones over the past several weeks. The incredible professionalism, skill, and dedication they displayed saved lives.”
The Lebanese Army will deploy in the coming hours to the villages of Zoutar al-Gharbiyeh and Frun, overseen directly by CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper, expected to arrive in Lebanon from Israel.
CENTCOM Commander Gen. Brad Cooper will travel from Israel to Lebanon within hours to discuss implementing the security mechanisms of the framework agreement, according to LBCI. The focus is forming the tripartite committee to oversee the deal.
"Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, held a series of townhalls with headquarters staff in Tampa last week. He highlighted mission achievements against ISIS and Iran during the first half of 2026 and thanked the team for continued commitment and dedication during recent operations."
CENTCOM Commander Gen. Brad Cooper testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, stating that 90% of Iran's defense industry has been destroyed and will take years to rebuild.
Cooper said Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis have all ...
CENTCOM Commander Gen. Brad Cooper testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, stating that 90% of Iran's defense industry has been destroyed and will take years to rebuild.
Cooper said Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis have all been cut off from Iranian weapons supplies. He told lawmakers that in November–December 2025, U.S. intelligence observed Iran moving to renew and accelerate its ballistic missile production.
When asked about reports claiming Iran still retains 70% of its missiles and launchers, Cooper responded directly: "The numbers are incorrect."
Cooper testified that in the 30 months leading up to the war, Iran attacked American military personnel and diplomats 350 times. He said Iran still poses a threat but that it has been significantly reduced.
CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper: "[Iran's] capability has been significantly degraded. If I just use my own professional experience, in 100 transits through the Strait of Hormuz, you would typically see 20-40 fast-boats; lately, we've seen two or three."
U.S. Navy F/A-18s disabled three Iranian-flagged tankers attempting to breach the blockade on the Gulf of Oman.
M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda were hit with precision munitions to their smokestacks on May 8. M/T Hasna had its rudder taken ...
U.S. Navy F/A-18s disabled three Iranian-flagged tankers attempting to breach the blockade on the Gulf of Oman.
M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda were hit with precision munitions to their smokestacks on May 8. M/T Hasna had its rudder taken out by 20mm cannon fire on May 6. None are still transiting to Iran.
Over 50 commercial vessels have been redirected by CENTCOM forces. Multiple others disabled.
CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper: "U.S. forces in the Middle East remain committed to full enforcement of the blockade of vessels entering or leaving Iran." - CENTCOM
“The cruise missiles were going after both US Navy ships, but mostly after commercial shipping. We defended both ourselves and consistent with our commitment, we defended all the commercial ships. We’ve had, drone launches against, commercial ships, all of which were defended against, consistent with our commitment. And then the small boats were all going against commercial ships, and all were sunk by Apaches and Seahawk helicopters.”
Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir intensifying contacts with U.S. CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper on potential military action against Iran, Channel 12 reports.
During a trip to the region earlier today, Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, visited Sailors and Marines aboard USS Tripoli (LHA 7) in the Arabian Sea. He interacted with service members, recognized top performers, and toured various spaces throughout the amphibious assault ship, including the Combat Information Center.
Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), has briefed President Donald Trump on potential military options against Iran, including a possible “final blow” strike package, Fox News reports.
"Continue the blockade, but blockade plus, try to open up a lane in the Strait of Hormuz to take Iran's leverage away. If they continue to be provocative, let Admiral Cooper finish his target list."
U.S. oil prices have surged above $110 per barrel following the Axios report that President Donald Trump will receive a briefing Thursday from CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper on potential military action in Iran.
This morning, Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, addressed media at the Pentagon during a briefing on the blockade against ships attempting to enter or exit Iranian ports. He highlighted his most recent trip to the Middle East where he visited with U.S. service members and engaged regional allies and partners.
