United States Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said Iran has increasingly targeted civilian sites across the Middle East out of desperation as its military capabilities decline in the third week of the war between the United States, Israel, and the Islamic Republic. He stated that Iran has deliberately struck civilian targets more than 300 times and that the scale of its attacks has diminished from large barrages to isolated drone and missile launches.

Cooper said coalition forces are degrading Iran’s naval strength to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route. While the waterway remains physically open, he said commercial shipping has slowed because Iranian forces are firing at vessels. Since the campaign began, about 140 Iranian vessels have been sunk or severely damaged.

He blamed Iran for prolonging the conflict and endangering civilians, arguing that Tehran could end the war immediately. He added that operations are proceeding as planned, targeting not only current threats but also Iran’s drone, missile, and naval production capabilities.

The remarks came after President Donald Trump demanded that Iran fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or face strikes on its power plants. Iranian officials rejected the ultimatum and warned they would retaliate against American and Israeli infrastructure if their facilities are attacked.