US Central Command commander says Iran is still able to impact merchant shipping
The top U.S. commander in the Middle East said that while he believes Iran’s military capabilities are “dramatically degraded,” he noted that Iran’s able to influence shipping with rhetoric alone.
“Their voice is very loud, and the threats are clearly heard by the merchant industry and the insurance industry,” Adm. Brad Cooper told lawmakers Thursday.
Cooper also said the US military has wide range of contingencies and retains the ability to escort shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. However, he deferred to policy makers about the best path forward amid the “time of sensitive negotiations.”
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