U.S. Intelligence Assessment: Iran still has several thousand ballistic missiles and can launch them from underground facilities

Gate News message. On April 11, according to officials familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments cited by The Wall Street Journal, Iran still has several thousand ballistic missiles in its armaments stockpiles and can launch them by retrieving launchers from underground storage areas.

Some U.S. officials say they are concerned that Iran will use the ceasefire period to reconstitute part of its missile arsenal. U.S. intelligence reports show that Iran still has the ability to reconstitute some missile forces. U.S. officials said that although more than half of Iran’s missile launchers have been destroyed, damaged, or trapped underground, a substantial portion of the remaining launchers can still be repaired or excavated from underground facilities.

U.S. and Israeli officials said that Iran’s missile stockpile in this conflict has been reduced by roughly half, but it still retains thousands of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles that can be taken out from hiding places or underground facilities. U.S. officials also noted that Iran still has a small inventory of cruise missiles. If U.S.-Iran negotiations break down, these missiles could be used to strike ships in the Persian Gulf or to target U.S. military units attempting to seize islands.