US can confirm only one-third of Iran’s missiles destroyed: Report

• US confirms destruction of roughly one-third of Iran’s missile arsenal.
• Significant portions remain inaccessible or potentially repairable despite heavy strikes.

According to five sources cited by Reuters, US intelligence can verify that roughly one-third of Iran’s missile stockpile has been destroyed during ongoing strikes. Four other sources said the status of another third is uncertain, with missiles likely damaged, buried in tunnels, or otherwise rendered difficult to access.

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A similar assessment applies to Iranian drone capabilities, with intelligence suggesting about one-third have been neutralized. Despite these strikes, Tehran retains a substantial arsenal and could potentially restore some damaged or buried weapons once hostilities subside.

Contrast with Presidential Claims

The intelligence assessments contrast sharply with President Donald Trump’s recent remarks, in which he claimed Iran has only “a very small number of missiles” remaining. During a Thursday government meeting, Trump said even a one-percent residual capacity is unacceptable, citing the potential cost of a single missile strike against a US ship.

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A Pentagon official noted that Iranian missile and drone attacks have dropped roughly 90% since the start of the conflict. CENTCOM said US forces have damaged or destroyed over 66% of Iran’s missile and drone production facilities, warships, and shipyards.

Challenges in Assessing Iran’s Stockpiles

US and Israeli officials say the difficulty in fully assessing Iran’s remaining missiles stems from underground storage and unknown pre-war stock levels. Israeli military sources estimated Iran possessed around 2,500 ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israel prior to the war. More than 335 launch platforms, about 70% of Iran’s known launch capacity, have been “neutralized,” though the remaining 30% is expected to be harder to target.

CENTCOM continues to describe the campaign, named “Epic Fury,” as proceeding on schedule or potentially ahead of plan. US goals include crippling Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, weakening its naval forces, and preventing nuclear weapons development.