The US military has depleted nearly 80% of its THAAD missile inventory and roughly half of its Patriot interceptors during the war with Iran, leaving stockpiles “dangerously low,” according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The shortages contributed to President Trump’s decision last weekend to call off planned massive strikes on Iran, sources said. Trump had given Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth the “go ahead” on Friday but backed off after Gulf allies expressed fears of Iranian retaliation on their energy infrastructure.
The US Army has also used “virtually all” of its long-range precision missiles, including ATACMS and PrSM systems, while the Tomahawk stockpile is depleted by nearly half.
Replenishment rates remain low — the Pentagon receives roughly 15 new Tomahawks and 20 new Patriot missiles per month. Analysts estimate it could take three or more years to rebuild THAAD inventories to pre-war levels.
The Pentagon insisted the military “has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the President’s choosing.” Trump has called Iran’s leadership “unbelievably duplicitous” but said he has no time constraints on negotiations.