Kamran Khan says a growing number of American media reports, intelligence assessments and opinion polls are challenging President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that the U.S.-Iran conflict severely weakened Tehran’s military and nuclear capabilities.
Speaking during an episode of “On My Radar,” Kamran Khan said evidence emerging from U.S. media outlets and intelligence reviews paints a far more complicated picture of the conflict and its consequences for the United States.
He said Trump repeatedly claimed Iran’s missile infrastructure was badly damaged and its nuclear program pushed back by years. However, Kamran Khan argued that reports from major American outlets suggest Iran’s core defense capabilities remain largely intact.
Citing a report by The New York Times, he said leaked U.S. intelligence assessments indicated Iran still maintains operational access to much of its missile infrastructure, launch systems and underground facilities.
Kamran Khan said questions about the extent of damage to Iran’s arsenal also surfaced during testimony before a U.S. Senate committee. According to him, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine declined to comment when asked about claims that nearly 70% of Iran’s missile and drone capability survived the conflict.
He also questioned American claims regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
Referring to a report by Reuters, Kamran Khan said U.S. intelligence reviews concluded that Iran’s potential timeline for producing a nuclear weapon may not have significantly changed despite two months of fighting.
He added that the International Atomic Energy Agency had indicated Iran still possesses enough highly enriched uranium for the possible production of around 10 nuclear bombs.
Kamran Khan also cited a report by CNN that analyzed satellite imagery and expert assessments suggesting several Iranian nuclear installations were not fully destroyed and that the full impact of some attacks remains unclear.
He said the reports collectively raised doubts over whether the United States and Israel achieved their primary objective of dismantling Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.
Kamran Khan then turned to reports about damage suffered by American military facilities in the Middle East.
According to reports by The New York Times and The Washington Post, he said Iranian attacks caused more extensive damage to U.S. military installations than initially disclosed.
Kamran Khan said satellite imagery attributed to Iranian state media and later verified by The Washington Post showed damage to at least 228 U.S. military structures and equipment pieces across 15 sites in the Middle East.
The reported damage included hangars, barracks, radar systems, air defense infrastructure and other sensitive military assets.
He further cited claims that 13 American service members were killed and more than 400 personnel injured during the conflict, while overall military costs exceeded $29 billion.
Kamran Khan said a separate CNN investigation reported that at least 16 American military sites were affected by Iranian strikes, including attacks on high-value targets that raised new questions about the vulnerability of U.S. military deployments in the region.
Referring to reporting by Al Jazeera, he said the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated Iranian missile and drone attacks caused between $2.3 billion and $2.8 billion in damage to U.S. military equipment.
The report also referenced an attack on a U.S. base in Saudi Arabia and the destruction of a radar surveillance aircraft valued at about $700 million.
Kamran Khan said the war also placed significant strain on American military stockpiles.
Citing another New York Times report, he said the United States used roughly 1,100 long-range stealth cruise missiles during the conflict, along with more than 1,000 Tomahawk missiles, a figure he said was nearly 10 times the Pentagon’s annual procurement rate.
He added that more than 1,300 Patriot interceptor missiles were reportedly used, equivalent to nearly two years of production at current manufacturing levels.
Kamran Khan said reports warned that replenishing these stockpiles could take years because the U.S. defense industry lacks the immediate capacity to rapidly scale production.
He said the economic effects of the war were also becoming increasingly visible inside the United States.
Citing reports by Bloomberg and The Washington Post, he said rising fuel and transportation costs were increasingly affecting businesses and consumers alike.
Kamran Khan said the economic pressure was also reflected in Trump’s falling approval ratings.
Referring to CNN polling, he said Trump’s disapproval rating had climbed sharply, with 77% of Americans saying the administration’s policies increased inflation in their communities.
He added that Reuters/Ipsos polling showed growing fears of a potential recession, while many Americans believed the administration had failed to clearly explain why the United States entered the conflict with Iran.
Kamran Khan concluded by questioning whether the conflict could truly be considered a clear American victory if Iran’s missile capability remains operational, its nuclear program survives, U.S. military sites suffered extensive damage and American voters continue facing economic pressure at home.
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