U.S. Integrates Cyber Operations Into Campaign Against Iran Military and Nuclear Sites

U.S. military leaders have detailed the expanding scope of Operation Epic Fury, confirming the integration of cyberspace operations alongside traditional air, sea, and land strikes. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine noted that cyber warfare is being used to target the logistical chains feeding Iran's missile and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) programs. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, following a visit to CENTCOM, praised the "wartime speed" of the operation, which has successfully struck over 11,000 defense-related targets—including nuclear research labs and missile factories—since late February. President Trump recently updated the total strike count to 13,000. In response to the sustained degradation of its defense industrial base, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei revived threats to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Baghaei questioned the treaty's utility after strikes hit Iranian nuclear facilities and criticized International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi for failing to condemn the U.S.-led actions. This marks a significant escalation in Tehran's diplomatic rhetoric, which has inconsistently utilized NPT withdrawal threats as leverage since 2004. Simultaneously, the Israeli think tank INSS released a strategy paper on March 31 outlining strict prerequisites for any potential ceasefire. The paper rejects previous diplomatic frameworks like the JCPOA, instead insisting on the complete physical dismantlement of Iran's uranium enrichment infrastructure and underground facilities. This stance highlights potential friction points for future negotiations, as Israeli experts prioritize the permanent removal of nuclear potential over temporary diplomatic commitments.