Iran nimbler at rebuilding drones, missile capabilities than US expected: Report
Tehran, May 22
Iran has begun some of its drone production as the wobbly ceasefire was declared in April, in a quicker pace than anticipated, as per US intelligence, CNN has learnt.
The sources familiar with the development said that replacing missile sites, launchers and production capacity for key weapons systems destroyed during the current conflict indicates that Iran still remains a persistent threat to the region. The rebuilding of the military capacities also contradicts the claims by the US that Iran's capabilities have been 'decimated'.
US intelligence estimates indicate Iran could fully reconstitute its drone attack capability in as soon as six months, a US official told CNN.
"The Iranians have exceeded all timelines the IC had for reconstitution," the US official told CNN.
Drone attacks by Iran are a headache for the regional countries because if US President Donald Trump starts bombing Iran, it may retaliate towards its neighbours.
Iran's catalyst towards rebuilding has been the support it gets from Russia and China and also the fact that the US and Israel did not inflict as much damage as the two countries had hoped, one of the sources told CNN.
For instance, China provides Iran with components during the conflict that can be used to build missiles, two sources familiar with US intelligence assessments told CNN, though that has likely been curtailed by the ongoing US blockade.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS last week that China is giving Iran "components of missile manufacturing" but declined to elaborate further.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun has rubbished the claims. He said that the allegation is "not based on facts".
Meanwhile, Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told CNN in a statement that "America's military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the President's choosing."
— ANI
Reader Comments
The US keeps claiming they've 'decimated' Iran's capabilities, but here we are. It reminds me of Afghanistan and Iraq—how many times have we heard 'mission accomplished'? 😅 Iran is clearly playing a long game. India must stay out of this mess and focus on our own defense preparedness. We can't afford to be dragged into another proxy war in the region.
This report highlights a lack of intelligence coordination within the US itself. If their own assessments were wrong, how can they expect allies to trust them? India has historically maintained good relations with Iran—our Chabahar port deal is a testament. Let's not let American or Israeli narratives dictate our foreign policy. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
The fact that Iran can produce drones with Chinese components despite blockades is a huge red flag for India's security. What if these drones fall into the hands of non-state actors near our borders? Also, the Pentagon's statement sounds like typical military bluster. We need to invest more in indigenous drone technology rather than relying on imports. Arre yaar, Make in India should be a priority!
I'm not convinced that the US and Israel have a real plan beyond 'bombing Iran.' Rebuilding is expected—Iran has been doing this for decades despite sanctions. What about diplomacy? India should encourage dialogue rather than escalation. After all, it's our neighbourhood that suffers when tensions rise. Chacha Nehru's policy of non-alignment seems more relevant now than ever.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.