Iran retains substantial military capabilities despite U.S. claims of having crippled its forces during recent operations, multiple American officials told CBS News, indicating a gap between public statements and internal assessments.
According to the CBS News report, about half of Iran’s ballistic missile stockpile and associated launch systems remained intact at the start of a ceasefire in early April. Officials also said roughly 60% of the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continues to operate, including fast-attack vessels.
The report said Iranian gunboats attacked commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a unilateral extension of the ceasefire to allow more time for negotiations.
Officials further told CBS News that while Iran’s air power has been significantly degraded, it has not been eliminated. Around two-thirds of the country’s air force is still believed to be operational despite extensive U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting infrastructure, storage, and production facilities.
Publicly, however, U.S. leadership has described the operation, named “Operation Epic Fury,” as a decisive success. President Trump said, “We’ve taken out their navy, we’ve taken out their air force, we’ve taken out their leaders.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the campaign as a “historic and overwhelming victory,” stating it had rendered Iran’s military “combat ineffective for years to come.”
CBS News reported that battle damage assessments confirm the destruction of much of Iran’s conventional navy. However, the IRGC’s naval wing, structured for asymmetric warfare and equipped with smaller vessels, remains partially intact and continues to affect shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz.
In testimony prepared for a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Defense Intelligence Agency official Marine Lt. Gen. James Adams said Iran still retains the ability to inflict damage.
“Iran retains thousands of missiles and one-way attack UAVs that can threaten U.S. and partner forces throughout the region,” Adams said.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, responding to CBS News, maintained that the campaign had been successful, stating that over 13,000 Iranian targets were struck.
He said 92% of Iran’s largest naval vessels had been destroyed along with dozens of minelayers, describing the campaign as “the largest elimination of a navy over a three-week period since World War II.”
The CBS News report highlights a divergence between official public messaging and intelligence-based assessments, suggesting that while Iran’s capabilities have been significantly reduced, they remain operational in key areas.
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