Damage caused by the United States and Israel to Iran's military industrial bases has set the country's ability to rebuild its combat infrastructure back months, not years, CNN reported on Thursday, citing a source familiar with recent US intelligence assessments.
Some of Iran's military industrial base remained intact, the source added, which could serve to further accelerate Iran's timeline for rebuilding certain capabilities.
Additional US intelligence estimates that Iran could “fully reconstitute its drone attack capability in as soon as six months,†according to another source, who is a US official, adding that “the Iranians have exceeded all timelines the IC had for reconstitution.â€
This confirms additional reports that Iran had restarted some of its drone production during the ongoing ceasefire that began in April, two other sources familiar with US intelligence assessments told CNN.
Further, four other sources familiar with US intelligence assessments explained that Iran's ability to rebuild its military infrastructure, including repairing destroyed missile sites, launchers, and its production capacity for key weapons systems, means that it continues to remain a “significant threat†to the region.
Iran receiving support from Russia, China
One of the sources told CNN that there are several reasons Iran has been able to begin rebuilding its military capabilities at such an advanced rate, including reported Russian and Chinese support and the possibility that the US and Israel did not do as much damage as they had hoped.
Throughout the conflict, China has reportedly provided Iran with missile components, two of the sources told CNN, noting that the effort has likely been slowed by the ongoing blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes, however, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that while China has been somewhat supporting Iran, “there's not been that much support†for Iran from Moscow.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun denied the allegation during a press conference, calling it baseless.
A spokesperson for US Central Command (CENTCOM) declined to provide a comment to CNN on the matter, saying that it does not discuss matters related to intelligence.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told CNN 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.â€
“We have executed multiple successful operations across combatant commands while ensuring the US military possesses a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and our interests,†Parnell added.
CENTCOM chief’s testimony reportedly ‘inconsistent’ with intel
CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper on Tuesday told the House Armed Services Committee that Iran's military capabilities have been largely eliminated – a testimony  “inconsistent†with US intelligence, two sources told CNN.
“Operation Epic Fury significantly degraded Iran's ballistic missiles and drones while destroying 90% of their defense industrial base, ensuring Iran cannot reconstitute for years,†Cooper said.
