Iran Rebuilds Drone Output Faster Than US Expected Amid Ceasefire

Former Trump administration envoy Morgan Ortagus issued a blunt warning this week that Iran is once again using diplomatic talks to buy breathing room and preserve its nuclear ambitions. Speaking after a Middle East Forum event in Washington, Ortagus described the regime's long pattern of dragging out negotiations to ease pressure while keeping its options open. She urged President Trump not to repeat the mistakes of past administrations that allowed Tehran to string along talks without real concessions.

The caution comes as the United States holds off on planned strikes and extends a fragile ceasefire that began six weeks ago. Trump has said he is willing to wait a few more days for the right answers from Tehran, but he made clear that patience has limits. If the responses fall short, he told reporters at Joint Base Andrews, action could follow quickly.

Iranian officials confirmed they are reviewing the latest American proposal delivered through Pakistani mediators. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran received Washington's views and is studying them alongside its original 14-point framework. Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is due in Tehran for further consultations after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made back-to-back visits this week.

Yet the picture on the ground suggests Iran is not simply waiting. U.S. intelligence assessments indicate the regime has restarted parts of its drone production during the ceasefire and is rebuilding its military industrial base faster than initial estimates projected. Tehran has also established a new oversight body for the Strait of Hormuz, requiring vessels to seek permission before transit through the vital waterway that once carried about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.

Inside Iran, hard-liners appear to be gaining influence over the negotiations. Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi, commander of the Revolutionary Guard, is now described as a central figure shaping Tehran's stance. Vahidi, who has long been tied to support for regional militant groups and was accused of involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in Argentina, rose to his post after his predecessor was killed early in the conflict. He reportedly belongs to a small circle with direct access to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who has stayed out of public view since Israeli strikes in February.

These developments underscore the risk that extended diplomacy could allow Iran to regroup rather than yield ground. Senator Rick Scott echoed that concern, stating that military force will likely be required with Iran because the regime has shown it will use talks to delay and obfuscate. Ortagus made a similar point, noting that the current White House holds stronger leverage than previous administrations but must avoid the trap of endless discussions.

Trump's team continues to press demands on Iran's nuclear program and its network of proxies even as Gulf allies urge more time for talks. The president has kept military options on the table while giving diplomacy this narrow window. Whether Tehran uses the pause to prepare for renewed confrontation or to reach a genuine agreement remains the central question.