Washington – Iran possesses more military capabilities than the White House or Pentagon have publicly acknowledged, according to multiple U.S. officials briefed on intelligence matters.
As of early April, around half of Iran’s ballistic missile stockpile and associated launch systems remained intact, three officials told CBS News.
Approximately 60% of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ naval arm is still operational, including fast-attack speed boats, with gunboats attacking several commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz shortly after President Trump announced a unilateral extension to the ceasefire for more peace talks.
While Iranian air power has been significantly degraded, not erased, about two-thirds of Iran’s air force remains operational, according to officials. This follows an intensive U.S. and Israeli campaign that struck thousands of targets, including storage and production facilities.
President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have described the U.S. effort, known as Operation Epic Fury, as essentially destroying Iran’s military capacity.
“We’ve taken out their navy, we’ve taken out their air force, we’ve taken out their leaders,” Trump said on Tuesday.
Hegseth further stated at a Pentagon press briefing on April 8 that “Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield, a capital V military victory.”
Battle damage assessments show much of Iran’s conventional navy has been destroyed. However, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ naval arm remains partly intact, officials said.
The head of the Defense Intelligence Agency submitted a written statement ahead of a House Armed Services Committee hearing, stating that Iran retains thousands of missiles and one-way attack UAVs capable of threatening U.S. and partner forces throughout the region despite degradations to its capabilities from attrition and expenditure.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the war has been successful with over 13,000 Iranian targets struck in less than 40 days. He stated that 92% of Iran’s largest naval vessels have been destroyed, along with about 44 minelayers.