Iran military more capable than what US claims, officials say

Iran's military capabilities remain stronger than publicly acknowledged by the White House and the Pentagon, according to multiple US officials familiar with intelligencel assessments, as reported by CBS News​​​​​​. 

Officials said that as of the ceasefire in early April, roughly half of Iran's ballistic missile stockpile and its launch systems were still intact. In addition, about 60% of the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) remain operational, including fast-attack boats.

These capabilities were on display when Iranian gunboats reportedly targeted several commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, shortly after US President Donald Trump announced a unilateral extension of the ceasefire to allow more time for negotiations.

While Iran's air power has been significantly weakened, it has not been eliminated. Officials estimate that around two-thirds of the country's air force remains functional, despite an intensive US and Israeli campaign that struck thousands of military targets, including storage and production facilities.

The military campaign—referred to as Operation Epic Fury—has been described by US leaders 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 also praised the operation, saying, "Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield, a capital V military victory." He added, "By any measure, Epic Fury decimated Iran's military and rendered it combat ineffective for years to come."

However, assessments from intelligence officials present a more nuanced picture. While much of Iran's conventional navy has been destroyed, the IRGC's naval wing—designed for asymmetric warfare and made up of smaller, agile vessels—remains partly intact. This force continues to pose a threat, particularly to shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement submitted ahead of a congressional hearing, Defense Intelligence Agency official James Adams warned that Iran still has the capacity to inflict damage. He noted, "Iran retains thousands of missiles and one-way attack UAVs that can threaten U.S. and partner forces throughout the region, despite degradations to its capabilities from both attrition and expenditure,"

Responding to the report, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell maintained that the campaign had been highly successful, with more than 13,000 Iranian targets struck in under 40 days.

"In less than 40 days, the United States military delivered a crippling series of blows to the Iranian regime," he said.

Parnell added that 92% of Iran's largest naval vessels and about 44 minelayers had been destroyed.

"It was "the largest elimination of a navy over a three week period since World War II," Parnell said. "Secretary Hegseth could not be prouder of our warfighters' resolve, and mainstream media's obsession with discounting their efforts is telling."

Despite these claims, the differing assessments highlight ongoing debate over the true extent of the damage to Iran's military and its remaining operational strength.