Korean Media: U.S. Intelligence Agencies Report 50% of Iran's Missile Launchers Still Intact; Trump Orders 100% Import Tariff on Pharmaceuticals

According to assessments by U.S. intelligence agencies, despite intensive strikes by the United States and Israel targeting Iranian military facilities over the past five weeks, approximately half of Iran’s missile launchers and thousands of attack drones remain undamaged. This stands in stark contrast to public statements made by President Donald Trump and senior U.S. government officials, who have claimed that Iran’s military capabilities have been nearly obliterated.

On the 2nd, CNN cited government sources familiar with recent U.S. intelligence assessments, stating that about 50% of Iran’s missile launchers and drone combat power remain intact. One source warned that Iran “still possesses the capability to plunge the entire region into absolute chaos.”

The primary reason for the preservation of Iran’s military assets lies in their “undergroundization.” For decades, in preparation for potential U.S. air strikes, Iran has concealed its launch sites within vast networks of tunnels and caves. Coupled with Iran’s successful tactic of rapidly relocating launchers into these caverns after firing, this has made targets extremely difficult to lock onto. Israeli military analysts estimate that, excluding inaccessible or buried launchers, the actual number of usable launchers may be as low as 20–25%, but even this figure remains highly threatening.

Moreover, this intelligence assessment sharply contrasts with the official stance of the U.S. government. According to U.S. Central Command, over 12,300 targets inside Iran have already been struck. On the 1st, during his first live address to the nation since the outbreak of war in Iran, Trump claimed that Iran’s weapons factories and rocket launch pads were “shattered and nearly gone.” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also emphasized that Iran’s ballistic missiles and drones had decreased by 90% compared to pre-war levels.

However, it is reported that the U.S. has focused primarily on destroying inland fire positions capable of directly targeting American allies, rather than Iran’s coastal military assets. As a result, most of Iran’s coastal defense cruise missiles—capable of threatening the Strait of Hormuz—remain intact.

Although Iran’s regular navy has suffered heavy losses, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval forces, which pose the main threat to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, still retain more than half their combat strength, including hundreds or even thousands of small vessels and unmanned surface vessels (USVs). Consequently, there is growing pessimism within U.S. circles that the vital Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed safe for navigation before the end of the conflict. Recently, Trump set a timeline of “2 to 3 weeks” for the end of the Iran war, but given the scale of Iran’s available weaponry, some observers believe this goal is unrealistic.

Source: Chosun Ilbo

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President Trump has ordered a 100% import tariff on pharmaceuticals, citing national security threats as the justification.

This tariff does not apply to generic drugs or their raw materials.

Additionally, pharmaceutical companies that have signed pricing agreements with the U.S. Department of Health and relocated production to the United States are exempt from paying this tariff.

Meanwhile, tariffs of 15% will be imposed on imports from Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and EU member states. The United Kingdom will face a 10% tariff and may see partial tariff reductions “based on future agreement requirements.”

According to reports, this tariff policy will take effect on July 31st for large enterprises and September 29th for small businesses.

Source: sputniknews

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861430943103040/

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