US-Israeli strikes failed to halt Iran’s missile production, Bloomberg

Iran has retained the ability to manufacture missiles and drones despite months of US and Israeli airstrikes, raising questions about the long-term impact of the military campaign on Tehran’s weapons capabilities, according to a Bloomberg report published on October 10.

Citing officials familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported that Iran had managed to preserve parts of its missile and drone manufacturing infrastructure, allowing it to continue producing weapons and replenish its military stockpiles despite extensive bombardment.

One official said Iran still possessed substantial stocks of ballistic missiles and certain types of anti-ship weapons. The country also retained the capacity to manufacture additional missiles at a rapid pace, the report said.

Russia was also supplying missiles to Iran, according to the report, potentially providing Tehran with another source of weapons as it seeks to maintain its military capabilities.

The assessments suggest that Iran could still mount a retaliatory response if the United States resumes airstrikes, highlighting the challenges Washington and its allies could face in attempting to eliminate Tehran’s missile threat through military action alone.

US-Israeli strikes damaged Iran’s military infrastructure

However, the report also pointed to the significant damage inflicted on Iran’s defence industry during the joint US-Israeli air campaign.

Bloomberg cited the assessment of Jim Lamson, a former CIA analyst, who said the military campaign likely inflicted severe long-term damage on a substantial portion of Iran’s pre-war missile production capacity.

The distinction between manufacturing capability and existing weapons stocks remains important. Although Iran may have lost some production infrastructure, its remaining stockpiles and surviving manufacturing facilities could allow it to retain a degree of military readiness.

Western intelligence assessments in June had indicated that Iran still possessed approximately three-quarters of its pre-war ammunition and other military stockpiles, Bloomberg reported.

That assessment suggested that the air campaign had not eliminated Iran’s weapons reserves, even as strikes sought to weaken its ability to sustain military operations.

Questions remain over the impact of the campaign

The report also highlighted the broader strategic implications of Iran’s surviving weapons capabilities as Washington weighs its next steps.

According to Bloomberg, President Donald Trump has been reluctant to launch further attacks ahead of the US midterm elections.

Iran’s remaining missile and drone capabilities could complicate any decision to resume military operations, particularly if Tehran retains sufficient weapons to retaliate against US forces or regional targets.

While the reported damage may have reduced Iran’s long-term ability to manufacture weapons at its previous scale, its surviving facilities, existing stockpiles and reported external supplies indicate that its military capabilities remain a significant factor in regional security calculations.