Multiple outlets report that new or recently updated classified US intelligence assessments indicate Iran retains substantial missile capabilities despite earlier claims by Donald Trump and US defense officials that Iran’s military had been “crushed.” According to the reports, the assessments say Iran has operational access to 30 of its 33 missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz, meaning most of the infrastructure needed to operate missiles in the region remains available. The outlets also say the assessments contradict public statements made by Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Iran’s missile force had been significantly weakened following a US-Israeli campaign earlier this year.
France 24 and the New York Times report additional details, including that Iran’s mobile launchers and pre-war missile stockpile remain largely in use, with the force assessed as more capable than suggested by official public messaging. France 24 also reports that the United States has depleted stockpiles of some critical munitions, raising concerns about US capacity as Iran’s missile capabilities are reassessed. The outlets characterize the information as secret assessments rather than confirmed public findings.
