Washington Post citing intelligence assessment: Iran is economically and militarily stronger, capable of withstanding a blockade for months
An American intelligence document revealed on Thursday estimates indicating that the Islamic Republic of Iran is capable of enduring the American blockade for a period ranging between three and four months before facing any severe economic pressures, pointing out that Iran is economically and militarily stronger than what the administration of US President Donald Trump imagines.
Exclusive Follow-ups – Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni:
According to an investigative report published by the “Washington Post,” a high-level intelligence report delivered to decision-makers in the White House this week completely contradicts the statements of Trump and his team about the imminent defeat and collapse of Iran and that it is no longer even able to pay its soldiers’ salaries.”
The “Washington Post” explained, citing four people familiar with the intelligence document, that Iran is following strategies to limit the impact of sanctions.
It indicated that among those sanctions are using stranded oil tankers as floating storage and reducing production in some fields to maintain the continuity of oil well operations.
One official said that the Iranian economic situation is “not close to the catastrophe that some portray.”
The newspaper pointed out that Iran may also be able to circumvent the blockade by smuggling oil overland through Central Asia using trains and trucks, alleviating the severity of economic restrictions.
Militarily:
In the military field, the intelligence assessment states that Iran still retains significant missile capabilities.
Estimates indicate that it retains about 75% of its mobile launch platforms and about 70% of its missile stockpile that existed before the war.
An American official told the Washington Post: “The Iranian authorities have managed to recover and operate most of the underground storage facilities and repair some damaged missiles, as well as complete the assembly of missiles that were under manufacturing when the war broke out.”
It is likely that the new intelligence assessment is one of the reasons that led the Trump administration to back down from its military operations launched to forcibly open the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week before announcing its suspension yesterday after its force failed to open a transit corridor for Hormuz due to being subjected to Iranian missile shelling and targeting.