Pentagon credits Israel with weakening Iran, warns Tehran seeks nuclear rebuild

The report notes that Iran still possesses technical knowledge, experienced personnel, and the institutional capacity to attempt reconstruction over time.

By Kostis Konstantinou, TPS

Iran is determined to rebuild its nuclear capabilities despite the damage inflicted by U.S. and Israeli military action, according to a Pentagon strategic document released for 2026.

The assessment says Iran’s leadership has not abandoned the option of pursuing nuclear weapons and considers recovery a long-term strategic objective.

The document credits Israeli military operations with significantly weakening Iran’s influence across the Middle East.

Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, the Pentagon says, disrupted Iran’s network of allied armed groups known as the “Axis of Resistance” and reduced Tehran’s ability to project power.

The Pentagon’s assessment also refers to Operation “Midnight Hammer,” the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities carried out in 2025.

It repeats the Pentagon’s assessment that Iran’s nuclear program was destroyed in those attacks.

U.S. officials describe the operation as an action that built on earlier Israeli operations, which limited Iran’s capacity to respond or escalate.

Combined, the strikes are presented as having removed Iran’s near-term ability to produce a nuclear weapon.

Despite these setbacks, the Pentagon warns that Iran remains determined. The report says Iranian leaders view the rebuilding of nuclear and missile capabilities as essential to restoring deterrence, particularly against Israel.

It notes that Iran still possesses technical knowledge, experienced personnel, and the institutional capacity to attempt reconstruction over time.

The assessment adds that Iran’s conventional forces are now weaker than at any point in recent decades. Even so, it describes Tehran as adaptable and patient, willing to absorb losses while planning for gradual recovery.

Israel is described as a central pillar of regional security, as the document stresses close U.S.–Israeli coordination.

It concludes that preventing Iran from reemerging as a nuclear threat will require sustained Israeli military pressure, continued U.S. backing, and long-term deterrence across the region.