Tehran has managed to preserve a significant portion of its capabilities for manufacturing drones and missiles, despite months of intensive US and Israeli strikes, providing it with the opportunity to rebuild its arsenal. This comes at a time when US
President Donald Trump is refraining from launching new strikes ahead of the midterm elections, according to Bloomberg citing well-informed officials. Western officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss undisclosed assessments, stated that Tehran still possesses the industrial capacity required
to produce weapons and replenish a portion of its depleted stockpiles. One official mentioned that Iran still retains a large inventory of ballistic missiles, along with some anti-ship weapons, and is capable of adding more at a rapid pace. The
official added that Russia is also supplying Iran with missiles, confirming a separate assessment issued in June. The Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to Bloomberg's request for comment. These assessments contradict frequent statements by Trump and administration officials who
said that eight months of airstrikes inflicted severe damage on Iran's military capabilities and reduced its ability to threaten US bases and Washington's allies in the region. Trump stated earlier in the year that the Iranian military was completely destroyed,
while US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in a speech on September 30 that the United States completely destroyed Iran's military industrial capabilities and defense base.
