The New York Times quoted a senior American military official as saying that Iran used the month long ceasefire to reopen dozens of missile sites previously targeted in American airstrikes.
According to the official, Tehran also relocated mobile missile launch platforms and adjusted its military tactics in preparation for a possible new round of confrontation.
The official added that Iran has stored large quantities of ballistic missiles inside caves and fortified military facilities carved deep into granite mountains, making them extremely difficult for American aircraft to destroy. Previous American strikes reportedly focused on targeting the entrances to those facilities, yet Iran later succeeded in reopening many of them.
The newspaper also reported that Iranian military leaders, possibly with Russian assistance, studied the flight patterns of American fighter jets and bombers in an effort to improve Iran’s air defence capabilities.
The official further claimed that Iran has since upgraded its defensive systems and was able to shoot down an American F-15E fighter jet last month, while an F-35 aircraft was reportedly damaged by ground fire.
According to the American official, Tehran has also redistributed a large portion of its remaining weapons stockpile. At the same time, confidence has reportedly grown within Iran’s military establishment regarding its ability to withstand American pressure through measures such as disrupting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, targeting energy infrastructure across Gulf states, and threatening American aircraft operating in the region.
The New York Times concluded that Iran emerged from the war more resilient and adaptable, despite the killing of several senior military commanders during weeks of intensive bombardment.
