By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

US missile stockpiles have been sharply depleted after the Iran war, raising “near-term risk” for future conflicts, CNN reports, citing Pentagon assessments.

Key Takeaways

• CNN reports US used nearly half of key missile stockpiles during Iran war.
• Experts warn of “near-term risk” in future conflicts, particularly against China.
• Replenishing inventories could take several years despite increased production efforts.

‘Near-Term Risk’ after Heavy Expenditure

The US military has significantly depleted its stockpile of key munitions during the war with Iran, creating what experts describe as a “near-term risk” in the event of another conflict, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing defense analysts and sources familiar with internal Pentagon assessments.

Over seven weeks of war, the US expended at least 45% of its Precision Strike Missiles, at least half of its THAAD interceptors, and nearly 50% of its Patriot air defense missiles, according to an analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), figures that closely align with classified Pentagon data.

Additional systems were also heavily used, including approximately 30% of Tomahawk missiles and more than 20% of long-range Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, as well as around 20% of SM-3 and SM-6 interceptors.

According to Mark Cancian, a retired US Marine Corps colonel and one of the report’s authors, “the high munitions expenditures have created a window of increased vulnerability in the western Pacific”.

He reportedly added that “it will take one to four years to replenish these inventories and several years after that to expand them to where they need to be.”

While the US retains enough munitions to continue operations in the near term, the report warns that current stockpiles are “no longer sufficient to confront a near-peer adversary, like China,” and may take years to return to pre-war levels.

Trump Claims Contrast with Pentagon Concerns

The findings stand in contrast to public statements by US President Donald Trump, who has downplayed concerns over weapons shortages.

“We’re asking for a lot of reasons, beyond even what we’re talking about in Iran,” Trump said, referring to a request for additional Pentagon funding. “Munitions in particular, at the high end we have a lot, but we’re preserving it.”

“It’s a small price to pay to make sure that we stay tippy top,” he added.

However, Pentagon officials had already warned before the war that a prolonged conflict could strain US stockpiles, particularly those supporting multiple theaters, including Ukraine and Israel.

Concerns have also been raised in Congress. Democratic Senator Mark Kelly warned that Iran’s capabilities could turn the situation into “a math problem,” asking: “How can we resupply air defense munitions? Where are they going to come from?”

Despite new contracts aimed at increasing production, experts note that replacement timelines remain slow, with key systems expected to take three to five years to replenish, leaving the US facing a prolonged period of reduced readiness.

(PC, CNN, CSIS)