US Military Used Anthropic AI in Iran Strike Despite Ban

The US military used Anthropic’s Claude AI in a major air strike on Iran just hours after President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to halt use of the company’s systems. Military commands, including US Central Command (CENTCOM) in the Middle East, employed Claude for operational support.

The tool assisted with intelligence analysis, identifying potential targets and running battlefield simulations, underlining how deeply advanced AI has become embedded in defense operations. Even as the administration moved to sever ties, Claude remained integrated into military workflows.

On Friday the Trump administration instructed agencies to stop working with the company and directed the Defense Department to treat it as a potential security risk. That order followed contract talks that broke down when Anthropic refused to grant unrestricted military use of its models.

United States, Middle East

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