US CENTCOM Claims to Have Destroyed Iran's Military Capabilities

US fighter jets take off from the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in the Arabian Sea. (Twitter/@CENTCOM)

JAKARTA - The United States Central Command (US CENTCOM) confirmed that they imposed a blockade on Iran because Tehran had used the Strait of Hormuz as a weapon to threaten freedom of navigation, adding that US forces were ready for any emergency plans that might be needed in the region.

US CENTCOM spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said in an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya that US forces had diverted more than 80 ships since the blockade against Iran began, stressing that Washington was closely monitoring everything that Iran tried to bring in or take out.

According to Hawkins, US forces are ready for any emergency plan that may be requested of them, signaling the continued readiness of the US military amid rising tensions in the Gulf, reported Al Arabiya (18/5).

Hawkins said the US military operation against Iran was very effective, noting that Washington had achieved the military objectives set since the beginning of the confrontation.

"Further, the United States has largely destroyed Iran's military capabilities, including Iran's military manufacturing capabilities, adding that Tehran's ability to launch missiles and drones has declined sharply."

According to Hawkins, Iran's ability to be a threat is no longer as it used to be, explaining that US forces have worked with allies to support air defense systems in the region.

He accused Iran of deliberately targeting civilians, adding that Iranian forces launched the missiles from a densely populated area inside Iran.

Hawkins also revealed that US operations had contributed to cutting off the supply of weapons to Iranian proxies, referring to Tehran-backed armed factions in the region.

The US CENTCOM statement comes as diplomatic efforts continue through regional and international mediators to prevent an expanded confrontation, while concerns remain about the possible collapse of the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran.

Although the US administration has stressed the continuation of the diplomatic track, the latest military statement reflects the ongoing state of alert in the Gulf, with the possibility of a military escalation still open if current de-escalation efforts fail.