Washington, April 3: Recent intelligence assessments from the United States indicate that Iran continues to retain substantial missile and drone capabilities more than a month after large-scale strikes by the US and Israel, raising concerns over ongoing regional security threats, according to a report by CNN.
The assessments suggest that nearly half of Iran’s missile launchers remain intact, along with thousands of one-way attack drones still operational within its arsenal. Sources familiar with the intelligence told the US media outlet that Iran remains capable of carrying out significant military actions across the region.
The findings further indicate that Iran continues to possess a large stockpile of missiles, including a considerable number of coastal defence cruise missiles. These systems are considered critical for maintaining strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy transit route.
While much of Iran’s conventional naval fleet has reportedly been destroyed, intelligence inputs cited in the report suggest that the naval wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps still retains approximately half of its operational capability. This includes access to hundreds, and potentially thousands, of small boats and unmanned surface vessels.
The report also highlights Iran’s continued reliance on underground infrastructure to safeguard its military assets. Missile launchers have been preserved through an extensive network of tunnels and cave systems, which have made them difficult to detect and target during ongoing military operations.
In Washington, Donald Trump had earlier indicated that US military operations could conclude within a two-to-three-week timeframe. However, a source with knowledge of the intelligence assessments described this projection as unrealistic, suggesting that the conflict’s operational timeline may extend further.
Despite sustained strikes, Iran has continued to launch missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, US allies in the Gulf region, and American military personnel stationed in the area. The persistence of these attacks, coupled with the retained capabilities outlined in the intelligence reports, underscores the ongoing volatility of the situation.
The assessments reflect a complex security landscape, where significant portions of Iran’s military infrastructure remain functional despite weeks of coordinated military action by the United States and Israel.
