Iran Can Quickly Replenish Missiles, Drones Despite Attacks, Report Says

Iran retains the capability to rapidly produce and develop new missiles and drones, and to quickly replenish its military arsenal in the event of renewed conflict with the United States, according to a Bloomberg report. This resilience in military production persists despite months of U.S. and Israeli attacks.

Western officials familiar with the matter estimate that Tehran has maintained its military production capacity and possesses a significant stockpile of ballistic missiles and anti-ship weapons, with the ability to expand this inventory swiftly. Notably, one Western official indicated that Russia is supplying Iran with missiles, a development that signifies a shift in military cooperation between the two nations, contrasting with earlier reports of Iran potentially supplying Russia with ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine.

U.S. military preparations for a potential resumption of hostilities against Iran within the next three weeks have been disclosed. Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir was briefed on these preparations during recent talks with senior U.S. officials. The Pentagon has reportedly directed the U.S. Central Command to finalize readiness for an offensive, though no specific start date has been set. The plan involves a coordinated, relatively intense, and short-duration attack targeting Iran's energy, infrastructure, and nuclear facilities.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States will not attack Iran before the midterm elections on November 3. He reiterated that Iran is in a "very bad situation, economically and militarily," and that sanctions will remain in place. However, Trump has reportedly considered intensifying attacks after the elections, a period that could allow Iran to recover and rebuild some of its military strength.

The White House, however, disputes claims of Iran's significant remaining military capabilities. Spokesperson Anna Kelly asserted that President Trump destroyed Iranian nuclear facilities during "Operation Midnight Hammer" last year, and that renewed conflict in February destroyed Iran's military system for protecting its nuclear program. Western intelligence estimates from June suggested Iran retained approximately 75% of its pre-war weapons stockpile, despite launching over 4,000 cruise missiles and at least 2,000 ballistic missiles since February 28. The report suggests that the pause in major U.S. attacks has given Iran time to recover and rebuild its military capacity.

In parallel, Iran has intensified attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, with the British Navy reporting at least ten ships damaged in the past week. William Albrekht, a senior researcher at the Pacific Forum, estimates that Iran has accumulated and hidden anti-ship cruise missiles over years, some intended for the Houthis in Yemen. He believes that "we have only seen a very small fraction of what could happen regarding attacks on ships."