US Military Used Anthropic AI in Iran Strike Hours After Trump’s Ban
Just hours after US President Donald Trump ordered the halt of the use of Artificial Intelligence from the company Anthropic by federal agencies, the US military deployed precisely this technology in an air strike in Iran. This is reported by the Wall Street Journal citing informed sources.
Deployment of Claude AI in Military Operations
The US Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for the Middle East, used the Claude AI tool from Anthropic during the military operation. According to media reports, the technology was deployed in several critical tasks:
- Intelligence assessments and analyses
- Identification of attack targets
- Simulation of combat scenarios
Central Command declined to comment on the specific systems used in the ongoing operation against Iran. Claude AI had previously been deployed in the US military operation to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The mentioned deployment scenarios of Claude would not contradict what Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei had demanded from the US military. He explicitly wanted Claude not to be used in the area of mass surveillance (in the US, mind you) and in the area of autonomous weapons systems.
Background of the Conflict Between Trump and Anthropic
The conflict between the US government and AI company Anthropic escalated on Friday after CEO Dario Amodei rejected the Pentagon’s demands. The Department of Defense had demanded that Anthropic grant the military unrestricted access to its AI tools.
Trump subsequently ordered that most federal agencies must immediately cease using Anthropic technology. He granted the Pentagon a six-month transition period to gradually replace the technology already embedded in military platforms.
“We don’t need it, we don’t want it, and we will never do business with them again,” Trump wrote on social media. But the US military apparently did need Claude in the Middle East after all.
The President called Anthropic’s decision a “catastrophic mistake” and called the company’s employees “far-left” and “woke”. He accused them of endangering American lives and jeopardizing national security through their “selfishness”.
Anthropic’s Justification and Legal Steps
Anthropic justified its refusal on ethical grounds. The company had become increasingly concerned in recent months about the potential use of its AI tools, particularly with regard to:
- Mass surveillance domestically
- Fully autonomous weapons systems
In a statement, Anthropic announced it would challenge the classification as a “supply chain risk” by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in court. This would be the first time a US company receives such a designation.
“No intimidation or punishment by the Department of Defense will change our position on mass surveillance domestically or fully autonomous weapons,” the company stated.
Anthropic emphasized that the classification as a supply chain risk was legally untenable and set a dangerous precedent for any American company negotiating with the government.
Impact on Existing Contracts
Anthropic has been in use by the US government and military since 2024 and was the first advanced AI company whose tools were deployed in government agencies for classified work. According to the company, the new classification only affects the use of Claude in contracts with the Department of Defense. Other business areas remain unaffected.
Companies that work with both Anthropic and the military may need to cease using Anthropic products for assignments on behalf of the Department of Defense. The company announced it would facilitate a smooth transition to another provider in the event of a final halt to collaboration.
