CENTCOM Chief: Iran Campaign ‘Ahead of Plan,’ Urges Iranian Public to Stay Indoors

23/03/2026

CENTCOM Chief: Iran Campaign ‘Ahead of Plan,’ Urges Iranian Public to Stay Indoors

CENTRAL COMMAND, FLORIDA, (AP), Mar 23: The top commander of the U.S. military’s Central Command said the U.S. campaign against Iran is “ahead or on plan.”

U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper gave his first one-on-one interview of the war to the Farsi-language satellite network Iran International, which aired it early Monday.

Cooper said Iran’s continued attacks on Gulf Arab states and the wider Mideast put civilians at risk.

He added that the U.S. and Israel were targeting missile and drone manufacturing sites as well.

“We’re also going after the manufacturing,” he said. “So it’s not just about the threat today. We’re eliminating the threat of the future, both in terms of the drones, the missiles, as well as the navy.”

Cooper also said it isn’t time for the Iranian public to come to the streets, although both Israel and the U.S. have said they hope the Iranian public would topple the country’s theocracy as a result of the strikes.

“They’re launching missiles and drones from populated areas and you need to stay inside for right now,” Cooper said. “There will be a clear signal at some point, as the president has indicated, for you to be able to come out.”

Also, the U.S. military’s Central Command said it isn’t time for the Iranian public to come to the streets.

U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper gave an interview to the Farsi-language satellite network Iran International, which the network aired early Monday.

Both Israel and the U.S. have said they hope the Iranian public topples the country’s theocracy as a result of the strikes.