Iran has 1,500-2,500 missiles despite US claims of ‘decimated’ arsenal: Report

Iran may have between 1,500 and 2,500 missiles left in its arsenal, according to a US intelligence assessment. That suggests Tehran still has substantial capacity to strike American and allied forces if full-scale war resumes.US officials told the Wall Street Journal the estimate carries uncertainty, since it is hard to track how many missiles are launch-ready and how many sit in storage. Even so, they said Iran retains a formidable stockpile.Although US and Israeli strikes damaged Iran's missile-production facilities, Tehran has continued rebuilding its arsenal, largely using stockpiled components. However, the process has been slower than before the war, officials said.Iran also retains a large number of drones and short-range missiles.According to WSJ, the assessment contrasts with statements by US administration officials, including President Donald Trump, that Iran's military capabilities had been decimated. It has also featured in internal discussions within the Trump administration about whether to resume strikes alongside Israel, US officials said.Israeli military officials similarly estimate that Iran has more than 1,500 ballistic missiles, although assessments vary across the region because of the difficulty of determining the exact size of its stockpile.Simone Ledeen, who served as deputy assistant secretary of defence for the Middle East during Trump's first term, told WSJ that even the lower estimate of 1,500 missiles would mean Iran had replenished more than half of…