Admiral Brad Cooper

Iran has a significantly degraded threat and they no longer threaten regional partners or the United States in ways that they were able to do before.

Across every domain, they've been significantly degraded.

Iran has a significantly degraded threat and they no longer threaten regional partners or the United States in ways that they were able to do before.

Across every domain, they've been significantly degraded.

It's more than just the numbers.

It's the command and control that's been shattered.

It's a significant degradation in capability, and it's the lack of any ability to then produce...

any missiles or drones on the back end.

I think we have to take a holistic look at that.

Iran has a significantly degraded threat and they no longer threaten regional partners or the United States in ways that they were able to do before.

Across every domain, they've been significantly degraded.

U.S.

Admiral Brad Cooper, the commanding officer, said the first day of the operation wasn't easy.

Most of the Iranian fire was directed at the merchant ships, though U.S.

naval vessels also came under fire.

None of the ships was hit.

Cooper says the U.S.

plans to expand the operation, though it's not yet clear how many commercial ships will be willing to take the risk, even with U.S.

protection.

Hundreds of merchant ships are still stranded in the Gulf due to Iran's blockade.