Reports say Iran is restarting missile production with stockpiled parts and underground facilities, but analysts say U.S.-Israeli strikes damaged its industrial base, limiting a quick arsenal rebuild. They say Tehran’s advanced weapons claims remain unproven in combat.
RANE analyst Freddy Khoueiry expects Iran to keep making cheaper, combat-proven short-range missiles while reserving scarce advanced components for precision medium-range, anti-ship and other high-value systems. He said Iran could emerge with fewer missiles than before the war but a more capable, resilient force.
ACLED analyst Salma Eissa cited U.S. assessments in April that more than 80% of facilities producing missiles and solid-propellant rocket motors had been damaged. U.S. Central Command confirmed Iran fired ballistic missiles toward a U.S. aircraft carrier and destroyer on Sept. 5 and targeted another U.S. warship twice over the next two days; none of the attacks achieved confirmed hits. Eissa said this does not establish a repeatable ability to hit a defended U.S. carrier group.
