WASHINGTON: A classified CIA assessment has concluded that Iran could withstand a US-led naval blockade for up to four months, despite escalating military pressure and renewed clashes in the Gulf region, according to international media reports.
The report surfaced as tensions between Washington and Tehran intensified following fresh confrontations in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route. US and Iranian forces reportedly exchanged fire on Friday, while the United States imposed additional sanctions targeting entities allegedly linked to Iran’s drone and missile programmes.
According to the intelligence assessment, Iran retains significant military and economic resilience despite sustained sanctions and naval restrictions. The report indicates Tehran still possesses a substantial portion of its missile arsenal and has adopted contingency measures, including oil storage strategies and alternative trade routes, to mitigate the blockade’s impact.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was awaiting Tehran’s response to a proposed framework aimed at ending hostilities and reopening negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme. Iranian officials, however, stated that consultations over the proposal were still ongoing.
Meanwhile, Gulf tensions widened after the United Arab Emirates reported that its air defence systems intercepted Iranian missiles and drones. Oil markets also reacted sharply, with crude prices rising amid fears of prolonged instability in the Strait of Hormuz.
The intelligence findings appear to challenge earlier claims by US President Donald Trump that Iran’s military capabilities and economic infrastructure had been severely weakened by the blockade and ongoing military operations.