NEW YORK, 14 May. - (ANA) - The Trump administration’s public portrayal of a shattered Iranian military sharply contradicts what US intelligence agencies are telling policymakers behind closed doors, according to a report by The New York Times. 

 

The report says newly classified assessments found that Iran still has operational access to 30 of its 33 missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting its military capabilities remain far stronger than US President Donald Trump has publicly asserted. 

 

Why it matters: The findings suggest the threat to American warships and commercial oil tankers transiting the narrow waterway persists. 

 

They also undermine months of public assurances from President Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who have repeatedly said the Iranian military was “decimated”.   - (ANA) -

 

 

 

AB/ANA/14 May 2026 - - -