Former CIA Analyst: U.S. Equipment Losses in Iran Stem from Overestimating Its Own Capabilities
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Claims Downing of U.S. MQ-9 Drone Over Iranian Territory
Source: Efforts to Restart U.S.-Iran Talks Have Not Yielded Substantial Progress
Kuwaiti Finance Ministry Building Attacked by Drones, No Casualties Reported
Analyst: The United States Will Not Risk a Ground Invasion of Iran
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Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson told Sputnik News that the United States' loss of expensive military equipment during operations against Iran stemmed from Washington overestimating its own capabilities prior to action.
Previously, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it destroyed a U.S. E-3 early warning aircraft equipped with long-range radar detection and control systems at a Saudi base. According to NBC News, within 48 hours after Trump declared on Thursday that he had “completely defeated Iran,” Iran shot down a U.S. F-15 fighter jet, an A-10 attack aircraft, and destroyed two Black Hawk helicopters.
Speaking about the equipment losses, Johnson said: "The issue isn't inadequate preparation—it's overly optimistic assessment of (U.S.) capabilities."
He emphasized that before the operation, there was a widespread belief that U.S. missile defense systems were highly effective against Iran—but this view proved incorrect.
He concluded: "U.S. bases in the region are now wide open to Iranian attacks. Even if air defense systems function as reported, their interception success rate is only 20%, leaving 80% of missiles free to pass through unimpeded."
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According to Press TV, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it intercepted and shot down an MQ-9 drone over Isfahan city in Iran.
The network cited a statement from the Revolutionary Guard saying: "The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announces that an intruding MQ-9 drone was intercepted and shot down above Isfahan City, Iran."
Previously, Ibrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Hataam-e-Bia Central Command, stated that Iran’s air defenses shot down three MQ-9 strategic drones on April 3.
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According to Turkish government sources speaking to Sputnik News, Turkey is coordinating with multiple countries in the Middle East to continue pushing forward initiatives aimed at restarting U.S.-Iran negotiations, but no substantial progress or results have been achieved so far.
Prior to this, Iranian diplomatic sources told reporters that if Iran decides to engage in talks with the United States, it will inform friendly nations including Russia.
"Turkey is working with regional partners to encourage both sides to resume dialogue, but these efforts have not yet led to concrete agreements," the source told Sputnik News.
He added that contacts at various levels are ongoing, with discussions underway regarding possible formats and platforms for negotiations, but it is still too early to talk about tangible outcomes.
"This work will continue because all parties remain committed to easing tensions and initiating the negotiation process," the source emphasized.
President Donald Trump previously stated that Washington and Tehran had conducted productive talks. Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied direct dialogue but acknowledged that Tehran received messages from Washington via intermediaries expressing interest in ending the conflict.
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According to KUNA news agency citing Kuwaiti Finance Ministry sources, the ministry building was attacked by drones, with no casualties reported.
The report said that due to damage to the building, Finance Ministry staff would work remotely on May 5.
The news agency posted on social platform X: "Following serious material damage caused by a drone attack on the ministry building, staff across all government complexes will work remotely on Sunday."
Previously, KUNA reported that a refinery in Kuwait’s Shuwaih area was attacked by drones, causing fires at the facility.
On April 1, Kuwait’s capital international airport was targeted by drones, resulting in multiple fuel tanks catching fire.
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U.S. military analyst and former Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter said in a live YouTube broadcast that the U.S. Army will not invade Iran, as Iran has been preparing its defenses for two decades.
He noted: "The Iranians have been planning defensive operations for two decades… They are executing their plans, while the U.S. can only react defensively to them. There will be no ground invasion. It simply isn’t feasible. There might be raid operations—but for what purpose? Everyone could die. Raids must have justification. If a raid could seize 60% of enriched uranium—enter, seize, withdraw—that would be a legitimate reason."
Ritter believes the recent political and media speculation about seizing Iran’s Khark Island is unrealistic.
"Khark Island? We don’t intend to occupy Khark Island. We wouldn’t even attempt to capture it… The island is low-lying and would be flattened. The Iranians know it inside out, while we know nothing about it. No, that would be a massacre. That would be extremely foolish," the expert explained.
Source: sputniknews
Original: toutiao.com/article/1861608815437836/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author