Command decisions: CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper's ups and downs in shaping Trump's war on Iran

What Happened

The Jerusalem Post reported details about US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Adm. Brad Cooper’s influence on the Trump administration’s war strategy against Iran. Cooper, who took a more passive public role than his predecessor Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, communicates his strategic views to Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Dan Caine and, depending on the issue, directly to Secretary of State Marco Rubio or Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rather than to President Donald Trump. Cooper is credited with successful planning and execution in the June 2025 war with Iran as deputy CENTCOM chief and in the early 2026 war as CENTCOM chief, especially naval operations in the Strait of Hormuz. On the Strait of Hormuz, the Post reported that Cooper would assert Iran’s early-March 2026 closure was partially fake: Iran’s missile and drone threats were real, but its claims of already mining the strait were mostly fictitious. American sources said the US Navy later found that the vast majority of the supposed 80 mines were duds, and Iran did not deploy mines before the April 7 initial ceasefire; no reports showed ships damaged by sea mines. By May 2026, CENTCOM said it had destroyed over 90% of over 8,000 Iranian sea mines. Separately, around March 19, Cooper made a secret call to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir requesting that Israel eliminate IRGC Navy chief Alireza Tangsiri, considered a serious threat to Hormuz; Zamir approved, and Israel assassinated Tangsiri on March 26. Gen. Kenneth Franklin McKenzie Jr. suggested on April 9 that the US could have seized Kharg Island or used consistent firepower to prevent Iran from operating there.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The Strait of Hormuz closure has shaken the US and world economy, and the article reveals an internal debate over whether the US military could have acted sooner to secure the critical oil chokepoint. Cooper’s assertion that Iran’s early mining claims were largely fictitious challenges public narratives and could shape accountability for the war’s costs. The secret US request to Israel to assassinate an IRGC commander underscores the depth of US-Israel operational coordination and carries escalatory risks.

Watch For

Watch whether current US operational control of the Strait of Hormuz holds and whether Iran resumes mining, missile, or drone attacks. Monitor CENTCOM updates on remaining Iranian sea mines and any shift toward alternative strategies such as seizing Kharg Island. Also watch for Iranian retaliation over the assassination of Alireza Tangsiri and for further Trump-Netanyahu decisions on Iran strategy.