According to a report by Anadolu Agency on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, former U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that recent efforts aimed at weakening Iran’s military infrastructure may achieve short-term gains without delivering a lasting strategic outcome.
Speaking about the ongoing tensions involving Iran’s missile and nuclear programs, Blinken said military operations can sometimes produce immediate tactical results while failing to eliminate broader long-term challenges.
“Sometimes you can achieve tactical success in certain areas but fail at the strategic level,” Blinken said.
He argued that the current situation reflected that reality, noting that Iran was still likely to preserve critical parts of its nuclear and missile capabilities despite sustained pressure and military action.
“The current situation is exactly that, because in the end, when the dust settles, Iran will likely retain part of its nuclear program,” he stated.
Blinken also said Tehran would continue to maintain a significant portion of its missile arsenal, suggesting that claims of complete destruction were unrealistic.
“Iran will definitely keep a large portion of its missiles. It is obvious that these missiles are not actually destroyed,” he said.
The former secretary of state further noted that Iran remained in control of its national sovereignty and had strengthened its strategic position in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route that carries a substantial share of the world’s oil supply.
“Iran will preserve its sovereignty and has gained a huge leverage tool in the Strait of Hormuz that it did not have before,” Blinken added.
