Iran retains thousands of missiles, ability to reactivate launchers – report

Apr16

Iran retains thousands of missiles, ability to reactivate launchers – report

JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Mockups of domestically-made Iranian missiles are displayed at an exhibition outside the Defence Museum in Tehran on March 31, 2026. / (photo credit: AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES)

Iran still retains thousands of ballistic missiles and has the ability to reactivate their launchers, according to a Saturday report by The Wall Street Journal, citing an assessment by United States intelligence amid recent statements by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Iran’s arsenal has been “depleted and decimated.”

Despite a massive depletion since the start of Operation Epic Fury, Iran’s short and medium-range missile stockpile remains in the thousands, according to the WSJ, with such missiles possibly able to be dug out of bombed storage sites.

While American officials have said that over half of Iran’s missile launchers have been rendered inoperable, the report cites US officials as saying that many of these launchers can be reactivated.

US officials are concerned that Iran may use the current ceasefire as an opportunity to rebuild a portion of their ballistic missile arsenal, the WSJ reported.

In addition, the WSJ reported that Iran still maintains a small number of cruise missiles, though its drone stockpile is heavily depleted due to a combination of use and airstrikes.

Iranian Basij militia members display their drones during military manoeuvres on January 10, 2025 in Tehran, Iran. (credit: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

Citing Israeli officials, the report stated that Iran can not currently manufacture more missiles, noting that Israel was able to reduce Iran’s firing capabilities to between 10 and 15 daily missiles so soon after the war began, compared to the dozens fired daily during the first few days of the operation.

The WSJ reached out to a CENTCOM spokesperson, who declined to comment on the issue.

Hegseth: US achieved ‘decisive victory’ in Iran

Hegseth had said that the US had a “decisive military victory against Iran” during a Wednesday press conference, further claiming that Iran had “begged” for the ceasefire.

He noted that the US had conducted hundreds of strikes on the night before the ceasefire and thanked Israel for being a “brave, capable, and willing ally on this battlefield.”

Additionally, Hegseth said the Strait of Hormuz is “open” and that Iran will allow ships to transit it, and further stated that the US military will be “hanging around” Iran to ensure it abides by the ceasefire’s terms.

US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine also spoke during the press conference, stating that Iran had lost 80% of its air defense systems, 90% of its weapon factories, and over 90% of its conventional naval forces as a result of the war.

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