PNN – The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has questioned Donald Trump’s claim about a naval blockade of Iran.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; While Donald Trump speaks optimistically of imminent victory in the war and the collapse of Iran’s economy, a secret assessment by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has painted a different and challenging picture.
The Washington Post reported on Thursday that according to the report submitted to the White House, Iran is capable of resisting a complete US naval blockade for at least the next three or four months.
A stark discrepancy between Trump’s claims and intelligence data
Donald Trump claimed in remarks on Wednesday that Iran’s missile capability was nearly destroyed, with only about 18 to 19 percent of it remaining. However, officials familiar with the CIA report told The Washington Post that Iran still retains a large portion of its military arsenal:
The CIA report says Iran still has 75 percent of its mobile launchers and 70 percent of its pre-war missile stockpile. The report also suggests that Iran has managed to reopen almost all of its underground storage facilities, repair damaged missiles, and even complete the construction of new missiles that were left unfinished on the eve of the war.
Naval Blockade and Economic Resilience
Although the White House claims that the blockade of Iranian ports is costing the country $500 million a day and has brought its economy to the brink of collapse, CIA analysts believe that Tehran has managed to contain the initial pressure by using alternative strategies.
Iran is now storing some of its oil in stranded tankers and, according to some officials, may begin transporting oil via rail and road via Central Asia to bypass the naval blockade.