Iran Resumes Military Buildup and Replenishes Its Missile and Drone Stockpiles

Despite months of US and Israeli strikes, Iran has managed to preserve its missile and drone factories, allowing it to replace part of its destroyed military arsenal, according to a report by Bloomberg.

As negotiations between Washington and Tehran once again falter, US President Donald Trump is holding off on resuming attacks against Iran until the US midterm elections scheduled for next November.

Bloomberg, citing Western officials familiar with intelligence assessments, reports that Tehran retains the ability to manufacture new weapons and rebuild its stockpiles. One official reportedly confirmed that Iran still possesses a substantial stockpile of ballistic missiles and certain anti-ship weapons, while retaining the capacity to produce more within a relatively short period.

The report adds that a Western official said Russia is also supplying missiles to Iran, corroborating an earlier assessment dating back to June.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense did not respond to a request for comment.

Kelly also stated: “Operation Epic Fury then succeeded in destroying the conventional shield Iran had sought to build to protect its nuclear program, including its ballistic missiles, production facilities and navy.” The statement refers to the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28 of this year.

Meanwhile, the report identifies an escalation in attacks on vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. According to the British Navy, at least ten ships came under attack within a single week.

The report argues that Iran’s continued ability to produce missiles and anti-ship weapons could give it room to sustain resistance if Washington resumes its strikes. This comes amid economic restrictions imposed on Tehran and a US naval blockade targeting Iranian oil exports.

Experts cited in the report suggest that Iran may increasingly rely on “asymmetric warfare” tactics, drawing on its missile stockpiles and the possibility of concealing certain weapons in mountainous areas, making them more difficult to detect and target from the air.

The report also notes that oil prices have exceeded $100 per barrel, while the cost of chartering an oil tanker has risen to approximately $1.2 million per day, compared with less than $50,000 before the war. These figures reflect the growing pressure on shipping and energy markets across the region.

According to the report, the halt in major US attacks has given Iran time to recover some of its capabilities and rebuild its arsenal, while the conflict remains open to further escalation.