Iran has rejected Western claims that its weapons capacity and missile inventory have been depleted, with Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi saying more than 90 percent of the country’s strategic missile stockpile remains fully intact. Naqdi, a senior adviser to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander-in-chief, made the remarks in an interview with Al-Mayadeen.

The Iranian official stressed the self-reliance and long-term durability of Iran’s missile-production network. He said domestic underground production facilities continue to manufacture missiles regularly and at a highly effective rate, rapidly replacing missiles used during military operations. He said this has kept Tehran’s military capability strong.

The report also cited recent assessments in major US media that challenged White House claims that US military operations had destroyed Iran’s missile and drone capabilities. Those reports said attacks had failed to fully disable Iran’s underground missile network and drone-launch platforms. They also indicated that the United States’ air-defence stocks have faced shortages as it uses Patriot and THAAD interceptors faster than its defence industry can produce replacements.