Western intelligence estimates Iran still holds 1,700 ballistic missiles

Iran is believed to have at least 1,700 ballistic missiles remaining in its arsenal and continues to manufacture approximately 50 more every month despite months of military strikes by the United States and Israel, Bloomberg has reported.

The latest Western intelligence assessment indicates that Tehran is producing missiles at roughly half its pre-war capacity, suggesting that its weapons manufacturing capabilities remain operational despite extensive damage to its military infrastructure.

A Western official familiar with military intelligence reports said Iran was likely to have retained at least 1,700 ballistic missiles, while continuing to replenish its stockpile.

There has been repeated claims by Washington that its military campaign has significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that about 80 per cent of Iran’s industrial base had been destroyed.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released footage on Tuesday showing what it described as a newly established underground ‘missile city’, highlighting Tehran’s continued efforts to maintain its missile capabilities.

Former Central Intelligence Agency analyst Jim Lamson also suggested that Iran could still possess thousands of Shahed-series attack drones, adding another dimension to concerns about the country’s remaining military resources.

The exact number of missiles and drones still available to Iran remains uncertain, as intelligence agencies lack precise figures for its pre-war stockpiles and the quantities subsequently destroyed, launched or replaced.

Despite America’s significantly larger military arsenal, analysts say Iran’s strategy does not necessarily depend on matching Washington’s firepower but on retaining sufficient weapons to disrupt operations, impose costs and sustain its ability to retaliate if hostilities resume.