Newsletters
Iran still holds a substantial portion of its missile arsenal in reserve following its recent conflict with the United States and Israel, according to a senior Defense Ministry official.
A Defense Ministry spokesperson, Gen. Reza Talaei-Nik, said a "significant portion" of Iran’s missile capabilities was not deployed during the 40-day war, local media reported Saturday.
Talaei-Nik added that only a limited share of Iran’s missile arsenal was brought into play during the 40-day conflict, framing it as a deliberate decision rather than a constraint.
He argued that Iranian forces managed to keep what he described as full air superiority over Israeli territory throughout the fighting, suggesting that aerial threats were effectively contained and that defensive systems held firm.
Talaei-Nik also turned to developments at sea, describing a series of encounters in and around the Sea of Oman where, he claimed, foreign warships repeatedly shifted position in response to Iranian actions and, according to his account, opposing naval forces at times pulled back by hundreds of kilometers.
Intelligence estimates reported by U.S. media appear to support the broader claim that Iran’s capabilities remain largely intact.
According to an earlier New York Times report, Tehran still controls up to 70% of its prewar missile stockpile and over 60% of its launch infrastructure despite sustained strikes.
Drone capacity has taken a bigger hit, with roughly 40% of the fleet still operational, while reconstruction efforts have been underway since the April 8 ceasefire.
Iran has moved quickly to restore damaged systems.
More than 100 missile launchers, previously concealed in underground facilities and caves, have been brought back into service, returning launcher capacity to prewar levels.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
