The head of U.S. Central Command said the military campaign against Iran is progressing as expected or even ahead of schedule, as Israeli forces launched a large wave of strikes early Monday targeting what they described as Iranian regime infrastructure.

In his first one-on-one interview about the war with the Farsi-language network Iran International, U.S. Navy Admiral Brad Cooper said ongoing Iranian attacks across the Gulf and broader Middle East are putting civilians at risk. He noted that U.S. and Israeli forces are not only targeting immediate threats but also striking facilities involved in producing missiles, drones, and naval assets to prevent future attacks.

Meanwhile, Iranian media reported fresh airstrikes in Tehran without specifying the targets. A day earlier, Tehran warned it could retaliate against U.S. and Israeli energy and infrastructure if either country follows through on former President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s power plants unless it fully opens the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict has caused heavy casualties, with more than 1,500 deaths reported in Iran, over 1,000 in Lebanon, and smaller numbers in Israel and among U.S. forces, along with civilian losses across the Gulf. Millions have also been displaced in Iran and Lebanon.

Cooper also urged Iranian civilians to remain indoors for now, citing the danger of missile and drone launches from populated areas, and said any signal for public action would come later.