Iranian officials recently communicated to Pakistani mediators their belief that they are gaining the upper hand in their ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. They assert that Iran maintains a formidable arsenal of 15,000 missiles and 45,000 drones. While the Wall Street Journal reported skepticism regarding these numbers, the claims underscore Iran's steadfast position in negotiations. Tensions have escalated in West Asia since joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, prompting retaliatory actions across the region. US President Donald Trump has issued stark warnings, stating that failure to heed his ultimatum could lead to catastrophic consequences for Iran. However, US intelligence assessments indicate that only about a third of Iran's missile and drone capabilities have been effectively neutralized, with significant portions still operational. This contradicts Trump's assertions about the degradation of Iran's military capabilities, as Iran continues to conduct missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and critical energy infrastructure in the Gulf.