Anthropic's AI models used in US military operations despite blacklist: Report

A spokesperson for Anthropic declined to comment on whether its models are being used in the conflict in Iran, but the company said it plans to challenge the designation in court.

Artificial intelligence models developed by Anthropic are being used to support US military operations in Iran, a source familiar with the matter told CNBC. The disclosure comes even after the company was blacklisted by the Trump administration, with the source noting the details are confidential.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday designated Anthropic a "supply chain risk to national security" following weeks of negotiations over how its AI systems could be deployed. President Donald Trump also directed all federal agencies to immediately cease using the company's technology.

A spokesperson for Anthropic declined to comment on whether its models are being used in the conflict in Iran, but the company said it plans to challenge the designation in court. CEO Dario Amodei said the firm's "strong preference" is to continue working with the Defense Department. He added that if the Pentagon chooses to offboard Anthropic, the company would facilitate a smooth transition to another provider to avoid disrupting ongoing military planning and critical missions, while keeping its models available under the terms it has proposed.

First LNG tanker diverts from Europe to Asia

Separately, an LNG tanker originally headed for Europe reversed course and is now sailing toward Asia as global natural gas prices spiked The latest data from analytics firm Kpler showed this is the first known instance of a vessel diverting from Europe to Asia amid the price surge, underscoring heightened volatility in global energy markets.