Report: US Depleted 'Virtually All' Long-Range Precision Missiles in Iran War

Are U.S. weapons stockpiles approaching a strategic breaking point or are reports of shortages overblown?

Published AUG 4

Report: US Depleted 'Virtually All' Long-Range Precision Missiles in Iran War

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Above: U.S. Navy handout: USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. fires a Tomahawk land-attack missile during Operation Epic Fury at sea on Feb. 28, 2026. Image credit: U.S. Navy/Getty Images

The Spin

The stockpile concerns leaking out of the Pentagon are overblown nonsense from people who should face consequences for endangering national security. The U.S. military has everything it needs to sustain and prosecute the Iran campaign, while defense manufacturers continue operating at record production levels. Waltz also confirmed that the military has maintained unfettered air and sea superiority over Iran throughout the operation — and that's the real story here.

The Washington Examiner Breitbart FOX News

The U.S. has burned through virtually all of its ATACMS and PrSM long-range missiles in the Iran war, and replenishing those arsenals could take years. Defensive stockpiles are equally alarming — fewer than 827 Patriot missiles remain, while the U.S. has consumed nearly half its global Tomahawk supply. These aren't isolated leaks or temporary shortages — they point to a deeper structural crisis that threatens America's long-term deterrence against China and Russia alike.

Responsible Statecraft Newsweek Modern Diplomacy

Metaculus Prediction

There is a 1.5% chance that any country's military expenditure will exceed that of the United States before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.