According to Iraf, The New York Times, in an investigative report published yesterday (Tuesday, May 12), revealed that the Islamic Republic of Iran still has full access to 30 out of its total 33 missile platforms along the Persian Gulf. This disclosure comes while the U.S. military and the White House had claimed during the recent conflicts that the majority of Iran’s defensive infrastructure had been destroyed. Analysts believe this operational resilience demonstrates the complex layered defense system and the intelligent use of the “missile cities” strategy, which has effectively challenged the aggressor’s first-strike capability.
Trump’s Nervous Reaction; Escaping Forward with the Label “Fake News”
Donald Trump, who was en route to Beijing at the same time this report was released, reacted sharply in a manner reflecting Washington’s strategic confusion, describing reports about Iran’s preserved military capability as “fake news” and “treason.” In an exaggerated claim, he asserted that all 159 Iranian military vessels are lying at the bottom of the sea and that Tehran’s air force and military technologies have been “completely destroyed.” However, strategic affairs experts believe Trump’s aggressive tone and his accusations of treason against American domestic media are attempts to cover up the failure to achieve the pre-determined objectives in the war against Iran.
The Erosion of Washington’s War Narrative in the Hormuz Deadlock
The contradiction between technical reports from American media and political statements from the White House points to a “credibility crisis” within the U.S. command structure. Previously, multiple reports on the preservation of Iran’s drone and missile capabilities had gained wide attention, aligning with the Pentagon’s recent admission regarding the loss of 39 aircraft. These data indicate that the strategy of “maximum military pressure” has not only failed to collapse Iran’s defensive capability, but has elevated Tehran’s deterrence to a level where Washington is now forced to deny battlefield realities in order to preserve its prestige.
The Strategic Message of Platform Resilience
The preservation of 30 missile platforms at the world’s most sensitive geographic chokepoint sends a clear message to extra-regional actors and artificial coalitions in the Persian Gulf. This resilience signifies the continued full oversight over the world’s energy chokepoint and the capability to respond reciprocally to any new adventurism. While Trump attempts to maintain the morale of his forces by calling these reports “false hope,” geographic and military realities indicate that the joint war machine of the United States and the Zionist regime has suffered structural exhaustion in confronting Iran’s defensive barrier and has been unable to shift the balance of power in its favor.
