Despite U.S. Strikes, Iran’s Missile Power Remains Intact

The United States can only confirm with certainty that it has destroyed about a third of Iran’s vast missile arsenal, according to five sources familiar with U.S. intelligence cited by Reuters, as the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran continues into its fourth week.

According to the sources, another third of Iran’s missile stockpile is in a less clear state, with intelligence suggesting that many systems may have been damaged, destroyed, or buried in underground facilities. The assessments reportedly also extend to Iran’s drone capabilities, where similar levels of confirmed destruction were indicated.

Despite the scale of strikes, officials acknowledge that Iran likely retains a significant portion of its missile inventory, some of which may still be recoverable after hostilities end.

The intelligence assessment appears to contrast with remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently claimed Iran had “very few rockets left.” Officials cited in the report suggest the battlefield reality is more complex, with remaining capabilities still posing a potential threat.

U.S. Central Command has reportedly stated that Iranian missile, drone, and naval production facilities have been heavily damaged, though it has not provided a precise overall percentage of destroyed capability.

Despite sustained strikes, Iran continues to demonstrate operational missile capability. The report notes that Iranian forces have continued launching missiles and drones in recent weeks, indicating that their arsenal has not been fully degraded.

Military experts quoted by Reuters warned that Iran’s extensive network of underground facilities complicates efforts to accurately assess remaining stockpiles, suggesting that a portion of its missile forces may remain hidden and operational.

The U.S. military campaign, described as targeting both Iran’s missile stockpiles and production infrastructure, has reportedly struck thousands of targets. However, uncertainty remains over the true scale of Iran’s remaining capabilities, with officials acknowledging the difficulty of confirming how many missiles are stored underground.

As the conflict continues, analysts say the durability of Iran’s missile program could shape the next phase of the regional confrontation.