Stockpile strain could reshape the Iran conflict

As the Iran conflict grinds on, both sides are burning through weapons faster than they can replenish, and stockpiles will increasingly shape the war’s tempo and outcomes. The US and Israel have carried out thousands of strikes while Iran’s missiles and Shahed drones have slowed; experts warn there’s little room to destroy every cache, and production limits—especially for costly air‑defense missiles like Patriot missiles—could curb future operations. The result may be a slower, more constrained war, even as leaders press for faster production and maintain air dominance.