Methodical U.S. Strikes on Iran’s Missile Arsenal Underway as Regional Tensions Escalate

By Jim Thomas | Sunday, March 1, 2026, 12:57 PM EST

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., stated that upcoming U.S. military operations will methodically target Iran’s missile stockpiles, launchers, and manufacturing sites to reduce Tehran’s capacity to threaten U.S. forces, Israel, and regional allies.

Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Cotton noted that Iran possesses “thousands and thousands of missiles” and emphasized that U.S. efforts will focus on degrading this capability. He said: “We’ve always said Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. They also can’t be allowed to have a vast missile arsenal, and that’s exactly what they have—thousands and thousands of missiles, much more than the United States and Israel have in missile defense combined.”

Cotton added: “What the American people will see in the days ahead is a methodical and systematic focus on Iran’s missiles, its missile launchers, and ultimately its missile manufacturing capability so they can’t continue to threaten our troops, Israel, and our other friends in the region.”

In an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Cotton described President Donald Trump as having clearly outlined an “extended air and naval campaign” aimed at “setting back Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” but “most importantly, to destroy its vast missile arsenal,” including “the missile launchers and its missile manufacturing capability.”

Cotton confirmed there would be no large-scale ground forces inside Iran, though he acknowledged the risk of aircraft being shot down. He stated that U.S. combat search and rescue assets in the region are prepared to extract any downed pilot.

When asked about a report alleging intelligence on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s location, Cotton said: “I can’t confirm anything about the intelligence that the United States intelligence community collects,” adding that the operation was driven by intelligence gathered by Israel and the U.S.

The remarks followed Iranian retaliatory strikes after U.S. and Israeli attacks killed Khamenei and other senior officials.

According to Israel’s Magen David Adom ambulance service, nine people were killed when an Iranian missile struck Beit Shemesh. Iran’s retaliation also reached the United Arab Emirates, where Dubai International Airport sustained minor damage and four individuals were injured. A drone was intercepted near the Burj Al Arab hotel, causing a small fire that civil defense crews controlled.

When pressed on what comes next for Iran’s leadership, Cotton stated: “I don’t think anyone can give you a simple answer.” He added, “There’s probably a lot of jockeying inside of Iran right now. They have a very consultative, deliberative process to replace the supreme leader.”

Cotton concluded: “President Trump has said, ‘Help is on the way.’ And as we focus on Iran’s missiles and their missile launchers and their missile manufacturing capability and on their pillars of power, we are hopefully going to degrade the regime’s ability to oppress its own people.”