Israel Reports Destruction of Half Iran's Missile Stockpiles in 2025 War
In a significant announcement, Israel's military stated on Sunday that it had destroyed approximately half of Iran's missile stockpiles during the conflict in June 2025. Despite this, Tehran is actively working to rebuild one of the largest and most diverse arsenals in the Middle East, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region.
Military Statement Details the Impact
Brigadier General Effie Defrin, a military spokesman, delivered a televised statement from Jerusalem, revealing the extent of the damage inflicted. "During the operation in June 2025, we destroyed approximately half of the Iranian regime's missile stockpiles and prevented the production of at least 1,500 additional missiles," he said. He further noted that Iran had been producing dozens of surface-to-surface missiles monthly and planned to increase this to hundreds per month, indicating a robust production capacity.
Post-Conflict Assessments and Rebuilding Efforts
Israeli officials initially estimated that Iran was left with about 1,500 missiles and 200 launchers after the conflict. However, by late 2025, signs emerged that Tehran was replenishing its stocks. This effort follows Iran's expenditure of hundreds of missiles in exchanges with Israel in April and October 2024, as well as during the June 2025 war, underscoring the rapid pace of its military recovery.
Iran's Extensive Missile Arsenal
Despite battlefield losses, Iran's missile force remains vast and layered. In 2022, US Central Command chief General Kenneth McKenzie reported that Tehran possessed "over 3,000" ballistic missiles, excluding its growing land attack cruise missile capabilities. The inventory includes:
- Short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles
- Solid fuel systems like the Fateh family, Zolfaghar, Dezful, Kheibar Shekan, and Sejjil
- Older liquid fuel designs such as the Shahab and Ghadr series
Ranges vary from 300 to 2,000 kilometers, with some systems potentially capable of reaching further if fitted with lighter warheads. Iran formally adopted a self-imposed range limit of 2,000 kilometers in 2015, but analysts suggest this cap could be abandoned.
Technological Advancements in Missile Systems
Over the past two decades, Iran has shifted focus towards combat readiness, precision, and survivability rather than merely extending range. Key advancements include:
- Improved Precision: Newer solid fuel systems, such as Fateh 313 and Zolfaghar variants, have a circular error probable of 10 to 30 meters, a significant improvement over older models with errors in hundreds or thousands of meters.
- Solid Fuel Propulsion: This technology allows for easier storage, faster launches, and reduced vulnerability to detection compared to liquid fuel systems.
- Manoeuvrable Re-entry Vehicles: Following mixed performance against US and Israeli air defences, Iran has invested in systems like Fattah 1 and upgraded Khorramshahr variants to alter trajectories during flight, complicating interception.
Nuclear Capability and International Concerns
While Iran frames its missile programme as a conventional deterrent, many of its medium-range ballistic missiles are inherently capable of carrying nuclear warheads, raising long-standing international concerns. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1929, reinstated in September 2025, prohibits Iran from activities related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, accompanied by technology procurement restrictions and targeted sanctions. Despite this, Tehran continues developing ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles that share technologies with long-range systems.
Regional Reach and Proxy Transfers
Iran's missile capability extends beyond its borders through transfers to regional proxies, adding strategic depth. Examples include:
- Yemen's Houthi movement using Iranian-derived missiles to strike targets in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and to target commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
- Supplying hundreds of close-range ballistic missiles and air defence missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine.
This networked approach allows Iran to exert pressure across multiple theatres, even if domestic stockpiles are degraded.
Ongoing Arsenal Rebuilding and Future Implications
Israel's claim of destroying half of Iran's missile stockpile highlights the scale of the June 2025 conflict. However, Brigadier General Defrin's statement about Iran's production plans suggests a rapid regeneration effort is underway. Iran's sustained investment in solid fuel production, precision guidance, and manoeuvrable warheads indicates that, even after heavy losses, its missile forces remain a central pillar of military doctrine and regional deterrence.
While the exact size of Iran's current inventory is difficult to verify independently, the breadth of systems across short-range, medium-range, and cruise missile categories means Iran retains the ability to strike military bases, infrastructure, and strategic targets across much of the Middle East, posing ongoing security challenges.
