15 May,2026 08:38 AM IST | Washington | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/AFP
The Trump administration's military campaign against Iran came under intense scrutiny during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, where senior US military officials defended the strikes and claimed Tehran's military infrastructure had been significantly damaged.
Appearing before lawmakers in Washington, Admiral Charles Cooper II defended Operation Epic Fury, stating that US forces had successfully reduced Iran's ability to project military power across the Middle East.
"In less than 40 days, Centcom forces achieved our military objectives," Cooper told senators during the hearing. He added that the operation had weakened Iran's capacity to threaten regional stability and target American interests in the region.
According to Cooper, Iran's missile, drone and naval industrial infrastructure had been degraded by nearly 90 per cent during the operation. He also claimed that Tehran's naval forces may take decades to recover to their earlier operational strength.
Several Republican lawmakers strongly supported the administration's actions and defended the military strategy adopted against Iran.
Senator Roger Wicker argued that Iran had spent decades supporting militant groups, targeting US interests and expanding its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
During the hearing, Cooper reiterated that the Iranian leadership had consistently maintained hostility toward the United States as a central element of its foreign policy.
Senator Tom Cotton said Iran was now "significantly less of a threat" compared to the period before the military operation began. Cooper agreed with the assessment and stated that Tehran could no longer carry out large-scale missile and drone attacks similar to those seen in recent years.
Democratic lawmakers, however, raised concerns over the administration's broader strategy and warned about the long-term consequences of continued military escalation in the Middle East.
Senator Jack Reed said there was "no purely military solution" to Iran's nuclear issue and criticised the administration for failing to present what he described as a credible long-term strategy.
Senator Tim Kaine accused the administration of moving away from diplomatic engagement and cautioned against another prolonged conflict in the region.
"If you make diplomacy impossible, you will make war inevitable," Kaine said during the hearing.
The sharp exchanges reflected growing divisions in Washington over how the United States should handle rising tensions with Iran and maintain stability in the Middle East.
Several lawmakers also focused on the impact of the conflict on global energy markets and maritime trade, particularly after the disruption of shipping activity through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Senators warned that instability in the waterway was already contributing to rising fuel and transportation costs for American consumers and global markets.
Cooper acknowledged that Iran still retained "some residual capability" to threaten shipping routes and regional infrastructure, although he maintained that those capabilities had been "dramatically degraded" following the US operation.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most critical oil transit routes, and any prolonged disruption could significantly affect global crude oil supplies and prices.
The hearing also shifted focus toward security concerns in Africa, where General Dagvin Anderson warned lawmakers that the continent had become "the epicenter of global terrorism."
Anderson said terrorist organisations linked to ISIS and Al Qaeda were expanding their presence across the Sahel region and Somalia, raising concerns about regional instability and international security.
He also warned that China and Russia were increasing their strategic influence across Africa through infrastructure investments, military cooperation and information campaigns.
According to Anderson, intelligence gaps in several African regions were becoming a growing concern for US national security and counterterrorism efforts.
(With inputs from IANS)
