US intelligence estimates Iran’s missile arsenal at 1,500 to 2,500
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Nouvelle Tribune
According to the Wall Street Journal, Washington estimates that Iran has 1,500 to 2,500 ballistic missiles remaining, an assessment made with low confidence, as it is unknown how many projectiles are ready to fire. This finding contradicts comments by Donald Trump, who judged the war “militarily over” on 9 November.
US intelligence services estimate that Iran retains between 1,500 and 2,500 ballistic missiles, despite strikes carried out by the United States and Israel. This assessment, however, rests on a low level of confidence, because US officials struggle to distinguish missiles that are immediately available from those in storage, reports the Wall Street Journal on 14 November.
Iran is reported to have lost about half of its pre-war stockpile, while retaining more than 1,000 medium-range missiles, according to the newspaper. Israeli military officials, for their part, estimate Iran’s stock at more than 1,500 ballistic missiles. US officials also believe Tehran is rebuilding its reserves with components accumulated before the conflict, and that some launchers hidden in underground sites could return to service.
Iran’s production of ballistic missiles, drones and air defence systems has also reportedly restarted, according to the Wall Street Journal. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had previously described Iran’s missile programme as “functionally destroyed”.
Donald Trump had stated on 9 November that the war was “militarily effectively over”, after a conversation with the Qatari prime minister. Trump says the war against Iran is “militarily over” had been published on 10 November.
