US Intelligence Report: Iran Remains Solid, Getting "Tougher" Despite Israel-America Attack

JAKARTA - The United States (US) intelligence assessment found that the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran remains solid and is "increasingly resilient" despite being hit by a barrage of US attacks over the past two weeks and will likely "remain in place for now".

The Washington Post report, Tuesday, March 17, citing related sources, said US intelligence findings showed that the US-Israeli attack since February 28 did not cause a "real crack or defection" in Iran's power structure.

Quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, the source said that although the attack weakened Iran militarily, it did not cause a collapse in the government, but rather strengthened the system "increasingly entrenched" under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The report also said US intelligence estimated the Iranian government "would remain intact and may even grow more confident, feeling it could outwit Donald Trump and survive," before Trump "gave the green light to launch a war with Israel."

In addition, the report said that US allies in the region were "angry and worried" about the prolonged conflict and the potential to be the target of direct retaliation from Iran, adding that civilian infrastructure in the region's countries was under threat.

Tensions in the Persian Gulf have escalated since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on February 28, which left 1,300 people dead, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, as well as Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to global markets and world aviation.