US Pauses Iran Strikes as $37.5 Billion War Drains Missile Stockpiles
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 27
US Pauses Iran Strikes as $37.5 Billion War Drains Missile Stockpiles
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 27
Summary
Nearly 40 days of fighting and a ceasefire on April 8 left the US pausing strikes on Iran for negotiations, after a campaign that hit more than 13,000 targets and intercepted over 1,700 Iranian drones and missiles.
The $37.5 billion war effort was driven largely by munitions use, with the New York Times reporting Trump was urged not to escalate because deeper attacks could further deplete US stockpiles.
CSIS estimates more than 1,000 Tomahawks, about 1,430 Patriot interceptors and 190 to 290 THAAD missiles were used, with some inventories taking years to rebuild and Tomahawk stocks not recovering to prewar levels until 2031.
That drawdown has sharpened Pentagon funding pressure—Pete Hegseth last week sought another $87 billion for critical shortfalls—even as Trump publicly denied any weapons shortage.
The broader concern is strategic: thinner US reserves could complicate support for Ukraine and readiness for a Taiwan crisis, though officials argue Iran's own arsenal has been damaged even more severely.