US Military Reportedly Used Anthropic AI in Iran Strike Despite Trump Ban

Hours after President Donald Trump ordered all federal agencies to stop using artificial intelligence tools from Anthropic, U.S. military forces reportedly relied on the company’s Claude AI system during a major airstrike targeting Iran, according to multiple news reports citing The Wall Street Journal.

Deep Integration of Claude in Military Operations

The intelligence arm of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) used Claude for intelligence analysis, target identification, and battlefield simulations during the operation, which was launched shortly after Trump’s directive. The president’s order was aimed at phasing out Anthropic’s technology from federal use, especially within the Department of Defense, which had deep reliance on the AI system in recent classified missions.

Anthropic’s Claude had been embedded in defense workflows, including earlier operations such as the mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, where the tool supported operational planning and assessment.

Policy Clash Between Anthropic and U.S. Government

The reported use of Claude during the Iran strike highlights the tension between the U.S. government and Anthropic over how AI should be used in military contexts. The Trump administration has designated the company a potential national security supply chain risk after Anthropic refused to remove safeguards that would allow unrestricted use of its technology for surveillance or autonomous lethal systems.

As a result of the dispute, the Pentagon is moving to transition to other AI providers while navigating the challenges of removing Claude from deeply integrated defense systems over the coming months.

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