Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), delivered a direct message to the Iranian people in a new interview, drawing a sharp distinction between the country’s ruling regime and its citizens.
Speaking with Iran International’s Samira Gharaei, Cooper said the United States remains prepared to counter aggression from Iran and its proxies, while emphasizing that the broader goal is regional stability, a vision he believes is shared by the Iranian public but stifled by their leaders.
The centerpiece of the conversation was Cooper’s direct address to the people of Iran. He went to great lengths to draw a clear line between the ruling regime’s actions and the population’s aspirations.
“The government, they could stop this war right now, absolutely, if they chose to do so,” Cooper said, criticizing Iranian leadership for continuing hostilities. He also accused the regime of endangering its own population by launching missiles and drones from populated areas.
“They need to stop putting the wonderful Iranian people at risk,” he added. “They have no care for the people. They’re threatening their own people.”
Cooper said Iranian-backed forces have carried out at least 300 attacks targeting civilians across the Middle East, adding, “That needs to stop.”
Then he turned to the Iranian citizenry, saying:
For the Iranian people, the wonderful Iranian people who I’ve gotten to know over several years, including living in the region for many years, extraordinary culture, deep culture of thousands of years, my main message is this: First and foremost, we are attacking the regime in the Islamic Republic, not the wonderful people. The second piece is continue to heed our advice. We’ve had multiple messages that have come out that have said, “Beware, the government doesn’t care about you. They’re launching missiles and drones from populated areas. You need to stay inside for right now.”
Third, there will be a clear signal at some point, as the President has indicated, for you to be able to come out. And then the last thing I’d like everyone to know is I’ve watched this over the last week, this extraordinary contrast between the comfort and protection that you’re seeing with the senior generals in the Islamic Republic, at least those that are still alive, who are up in deep bunkers and facilities in and around Tehran, and contrast that with the soldiers who are down on the ground, who are unprotected. The generals are protected; the soldiers are not protected. I’ve watched this in Bashir, Shiraz, Bandar Abbas, Abu Musa Island, Konarak, Jask, Chabahar, over and over again. This is a story that has to be told over and over again so that the people understand exactly what’s happening. The generals are protected; the people are not.
“And I think this is an important point,” he concluded.
🇺🇸 CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper to the Iranian people: "There will be a clear signal at some point, as the President has indicated, for you to be able to come out.”
pic.twitter.com/19ifNlbRCr— Colby Badhwar 🇨🇦🇬🇧 (@ColbyBadhwar) March 23, 2026
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