Top US admiral says strikes severely degraded Iran's military and defence
A senior US Navy commander said recent weeks of air strikes have severely degraded Iran's military and air defence capabilities. The Pentagon confirmed the assessment. Tehran rejected the statement.
A senior US Navy commander told reporters on Thursday that air strikes carried out in recent weeks have severely degraded Iran's military infrastructure and air defence systems. The commander warned, however, that residual capabilities still pose a regional threat.
The statement came on day 76 of the Iran war. The Pentagon confirmed the assessment and noted that Iran's missile preparation times have lengthened. Tehran called the statement 'propaganda' and said its capacity to respond to strikes remains intact.
Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains under pressure. Britain announced last week that it would deploy additional defence assets to the region, including jets, drones and a frigate. Diplomatic sources said an indirect channel between the United States and Iran could reopen in the coming days.
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