CENTCOM Denies Its Commander Is Pushing to Resume Attacks on Iran

CENTCOM spokesman Tim Hawkins said on Thursday, 22 Mordad 1405 (August 13, 2026), that reports claiming CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper is pushing to resume attacks on Iran are "completely fabricated." According to Ecoiran, citing Tasnim and a Jerusalem Post reporter, Hawkins was responding to an earlier claim by Israel's Channel 13.

Channel 13 had reported hours earlier that Cooper, during a recent visit to Tel Aviv, told Israeli officials the United States might ultimately have no choice but to strike Iran again alongside Israel, and had raised the possibility of hitting Iranian oil, gas and power infrastructure. The denial comes as the US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in place following the collapse of the June ceasefire memorandum, with the US war secretary reaffirming its continuation earlier this week.