US intelligence says Iran rebuilding drone capabilities faster than expected

One US official told CNN that some assessments indicate Iran may be able to fully restore its drone strike capability within six months.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Iran is rebuilding its drone and other military capabilities during the ceasefire at a faster pace than previously expected, according to four sources familiar with US intelligence assessments cited by CNN.

US intelligence officials believe Tehran is restoring missile launch infrastructure, weapons production facilities, and launcher systems damaged during the current conflict, the report said.

One US official told CNN that some assessments indicate Iran may be able to fully restore its drone strike capability within six months.

“The Iranians have exceeded all timelines the IC had for reconstitution,” the official said.

The report said American intelligence agencies have identified two possible explanations for the speed of Iran’s recovery effort.

Officials cited continued assistance from Russia and China as one factor, while also raising the possibility that US and Israeli strikes may not have caused as much destruction to Iran’s military infrastructure as earlier reports suggested.

Two sources familiar with US intelligence assessments told CNN that China continued transferring components to Iran during the conflict that could be used in missile manufacturing.

According to the report, those transfers have likely slowed because of the ongoing US blockade.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS last week that China was supplying Iran with “components of missile manufacturing.” Netanyahu did not provide additional details regarding the claim.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun denied the accusation during a press briefing, calling it “not based on facts.”

The CNN report also cited concerns among US officials about the implications for regional security if fighting resumes. The report questioned how extensively Iran’s military capabilities had been degraded during the conflict.

A spokesperson for US Central Command declined to comment, saying the command does not discuss intelligence-related matters.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell defended US military readiness in a statement to CNN.

“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,” Parnell said.

“We have executed multiple successful operations across combatant commands while ensuring the U.S. military possesses a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and our interests,” he added.