Pentagon intel says Iran retains ‘key military capabilities’, contradicting Trump-Hegseth claims: US media report

WASHINGTON: A fresh assessment from the Pentagon’s intelligence wing indicates that Iran still has its ‘key military capabilities’, appearing to challenge recent assertions made by high-ranking American officials regarding the degradation of Tehran’s forces.

According to a report by NBC News, the findings from the defence intelligence community provide a stark contrast to the narratives presented by President Donald Trump and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Both leaders had previously suggested that the Iranian military had suffered irreversible losses during recent engagements.

The intelligence report indicates that despite recent operations, the Iranian armed forces remain a potent regional power. This contradicts claims by the administration that Iran’s “air force has been destroyed” and its “navy decimated,” as highlighted by NBC News.

Against the backdrop of this internal intelligence assessment, US President Donald Trump has announced a further extension of the ceasefire involving Iran, citing a direct appeal from the Pakistani leadership to delay a planned military strike.

The decision was made public just hours before the previous deadline was due to expire. In a statement characterising the Iranian administration as “seriously fractured,” the US President clarified that the maritime “blockade” of Iranian ports would remain in effect until Washington receives a “unified proposal” from the leadership in Tehran.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump explained that the pause in hostilities was granted “upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan.” He noted that the US had “been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal”.

The President further confirmed that he has “directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able,” confirming that the ceasefire would hold “until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”

The announcement, however, was met with immediate hostility from Tehran. Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iran’s parliament speaker, dismissed the American gesture, asserting that the “losing side cannot dictate terms.” He argued that the extension “means nothing” to the Iranian government and called for a military escalation against US forces. In a post on X, Mohammadi stated that “Trump’s extension of the ceasefire means nothing” as the “losing side cannot set the terms”.

He further argued that “continuing the siege is no different from bombing and must be responded to militarily,” warning that the extension is likely a tactic for “buying time for a surprise strike” and concluding that “it is time for Iran to take the initiative.”

This latest development follows the collapse of earlier diplomatic efforts. A previous attempt to secure a long-term agreement failed after a gruelling “21-hour-long negotiation” between the two nations in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough. (ANI)