Adm. Brad Cooper, the U.S. CENTCOM Commander, stated on Friday that Iran-backed militias operating in the region are funneling money back to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to U.S. officials, this financial support is intended to alleviate the economic pressure currently facing the IRGC following nine months of regional conflict.

The U.S. government maintains that its current strategy of implementing severe economic sanctions and a naval blockade is successfully creating an "economic chokehold" on the Iranian regime. Officials suggest that these measures have caused significant operational difficulties for Iran's security forces. While the U.S. military continues to prepare for the possibility of renewed major combat operations against Iran, the current focus remains on the impact of these financial restrictions on the regime's stability.

The report highlights a shift in the traditional dynamic between Iran and its regional proxies, suggesting that the IRGC is now relying on these groups for financial relief rather than solely providing them with resources. The U.S. assessment frames these transfers as a direct response to the success of American economic policies in limiting the regime's access to capital.