Baghdad: The commander of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, has advised halting the bombing campaign around the Strait of Hormuz after determining that it has achieved its maximum potential effectiveness.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Admiral Cooper’s recommendation, along with input from other advisors, influenced U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to pause military strikes against Iran. The decision reflects a consensus among military and civilian advisors on the limitations of continued airstrikes in the region.

The sources revealed that Admiral Cooper assessed the two-week bombing campaign had substantially weakened Iran’s capacity to threaten shipping in the area. They further stated that most of the strategic targets had already been neutralized, which led to the recommendation to suspend further strikes in the region.