Did the US-Iran Conflict Deplete the US Army's "Precision Strike Missiles"? White House Responds

【Global Times Special Correspondent Ren Zhong】According to a report by Reuters on the 4th, three informed sources stated that during the five-month conflict with Iran, the U.S. Army has consumed most of its global stockpile of precision long-range missiles. These are primarily the U.S. Army's ground-to-ground weapons, namely the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). Two of the sources indicated that the U.S. has used "almost all" of these types of weapons.

It was reported that these long-range munitions cost over $1 million each and can carry out precise strikes from a safe distance. The significant reduction in long-range precision missiles means that if the U.S. were to launch a large-scale attack on Iran again, it might have to rely more on soldiers piloting aircraft to carry out bombing missions.

On the 5th, CNN also quoted several informed sources stating that the U.S. military has consumed nearly 80% of the interceptors from the THAAD missile defense system, as well as about half of the Patriot interceptors, with the Pentagon's ammunition reserves having dropped to dangerously low levels.

According to reports, the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that before the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran conflict, the U.S. had approximately 2,200 Patriot missiles and 452 THAAD missiles. The issue of arms reserves was raised again before Trump decided to cancel a new round of strikes against Iran last weekend. This marks at least the second time in recent weeks that senior military advisors to Trump have explicitly expressed concerns about the reduced quantity of critical munitions when discussing the potential escalation of conflict with Iran. However, a White House spokesperson stated that the U.S. military "has enough ammunition and reserves to meet all of President Trump's strategic objectives, and even more."

According to a report by Fox News on the 4th, Trump warned that if negotiations between Washington and Tehran break down again, the U.S. may launch a "very severe" strike against the country. "The real strike has not yet come; let's hope we don't have to use it," he said. According to Axios, two sources and a U.S. official indicated that the U.S., Iran, and Oman are "close to reaching" a temporary agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with the U.S. hoping to announce the agreement on the 5th. In response to media inquiries, Trump stated that a statement regarding the Strait of Hormuz issue would be released as early as the 5th, and that negotiations "have made significant progress."

However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei had previously denied that negotiations were taking place with the U.S. regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian Tasnim News Agency quoted informed sources on the 5th, stating that Trump's intervention and threats are the main reasons for the delay in reaching an agreement between Iran and Oman on the Strait of Hormuz issue. "As long as the U.S. continues to intervene and take military action against Iran, the agreement will continue to be postponed," the informed sources said, adding that Iran will not reach any agreement under threat.