US military used Claude AI in Iran strikes hours after Trump banned it

U.S. forces reportedly used Claude AI technology during strikes on Iran, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal and Axios. The system, developed by the AI company Anthropic, allegedly played a key role in targeting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior Iranian political and military officials on Saturday morning.

Last Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media that he would no longer approve the use of Anthropic’s AI technology for military purposes, directing federal agencies to immediately stop using it.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth consequently wrote on 𝕏 on Friday that he had instructed his department “designate Anthropic a Supply-Chain Risk to National Security.”

The AI tool facilitates real-time intelligence collection and the identification of military targets. The tool also simulates various battle scenarios to help the U.S. military prepare solutions for different outcomes. 

Anthropic, which is headquartered in San Francisco, announced on Saturday that it had made it “clear that we support all lawful uses of AI for national security.” The Wall Street Journal reported that the company had signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense worth some $200 million.

The Trump administration has stressed that the Iranian regime poses a serious threat to U.S. national security interests. Although Washington announced it would phase out the AI tool over the next six months, both Trump and Hegseth emphasized that U.S. authorities would continue using the technology for the ongoing military operation.

Meanwhile, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, announced on Friday that the Defense Department had reached an agreement with his AI company. 

“We think our agreement has more guardrails than any previous agreement for classified AI deployments, including Anthropic’s,” OpenAI stated. 

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Iranian nation in Persian, using an AI-generated voice in a video posted on social media. He urged the Iranian people to seize the opportunity and regain their freedom by taking to the streets and toppling the ayatollah regime. 

“Do not give up, because your moment will come soon. The moment when you must take to the streets – take to the streets in your millions to finish the job, to topple the terror regime that has made your lives unbearable," Netanyahu stated. 

"Your suffering and sacrifice will not be in vain. The help you have been waiting for has arrived. The help has arrived, and now is the time to unite for a historic mission,” he continued.

Netanyahu addressed Iran’s diverse population consisting of "the Persians, the Kurds, the Azeris, the Balochis, and the Ahwazis." He concluded by calling on Iranians from all walks of life to "rid themselves of the yoke of tyranny and bring about a free and peace-seeking Iran."