Iran Reportedly Has Up to 2,500 Missiles, Threatens US Bases in UK

Iran still possesses an estimated 1,500 to 2,500 missiles, according to US intelligence assessments reported by The Wall Street Journal. The figures suggest Tehran has rebuilt roughly half of its pre-war arsenal, even as the Trump administration and Israel have claimed that Iran's missile program was severely degraded.

Simone Ledeen, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, told the Journal that the low estimate of 1,500 weapons indicates Iran has restored about 50% of its stockpile. She noted that Iran had previously fully rebuilt its arsenal between last year's 12-day war and the current conflict, matching known production capacity.

The report comes amid ongoing hostilities. Over the weekend, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it fired six drones at a US air defense radar at the Al-Rifaa helicopter base in Bahrain. US and Bahraini forces said they intercepted the attack. Bahrain condemned the barrage as a clear escalation.

Iran has also warned that its modified Khorramshahr ballistic missile could reach American military bases in Europe, specifically the US-UK RAF Fairford base in the UK, about 2,800 miles away. State broadcasters made the threat on Sunday, according to the report.

The size of Iran's arsenal and its increasing accuracy are raising concerns. An analysis found that Tehran's strikes in June and July were more sophisticated and specifically aimed at soldiers' sleeping quarters. Iran continues to launch missile and drone attacks against US bases in the region and ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

The disclosure underscores the challenges facing US and allied forces as they seek to counter Iran's military capabilities. The intelligence assessment suggests that despite repeated claims of degradation, Iran's missile program remains a significant threat.