Is the US running out of weapons in the Iran War?

Summary

Podcast Summary: Consider This from NPR

Episode: Is the US Running Out Of Weapons in the Iran War?
Date: May 14, 2026
Host: Ailsa Chang
Guest: Barbara Starr, former CNN Pentagon correspondent and senior fellow at the USC Annenberg Center

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Main Theme

This episode delves into concerns about US military readiness and munitions stockpiles amid the ongoing war with Iran. It covers political debates ignited by statements on munition depletion, explores how these concerns affect US preparedness for other global conflicts, and assesses the timeline and challenges for replenishing critical weapon supplies.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Political Exchange Over Military Readiness

• The episode opens with a recap of a public back-and-forth between Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Senator Mark Kelly, incited by Kelly’s remarks on national television about the state of US munitions.
• Sen. Mark Kelly’s statement:
  “It’s shocking how deep we have gone into these magazines... we’ve expended a lot of munitions, and that means the American people are less safe.” (00:21)
  • Kelly suggests the US stockpile is dangerously depleted, not only risking US interests in Iran but also in potential conflicts elsewhere, such as in the Pacific with China.
• Hegseth accuses Kelly of potentially divulging classified information, calling for an investigation. However, notably, Hegseth doesn't dispute the substance of Kelly’s remarks (00:51).

Is the Information Classified?

• Host Ailsa Chang queries whether Kelly's comments really constituted a leak.
• Barbara Starr responds:
  “I don't think you can make a strong case that it's classified to say we've expended weapons in this war... What becomes classified is...extreme detail about how much is left in the stockpile, specific munitions, how much they have of this or that. And I didn't see that he got into that kind of detail.” (02:42)

How Critical Is the Depletion?

• Ailsa references reports stating that the US “used up quite a bit of its stockpile,” asking Starr if the stockpile is truly running low (03:15).
• Starr’s analysis:
  • The Pentagon maintains there’s “plenty left,” but significant concern persists over dwindling stocks of key munitions—specifically precision weapons, Patriot missiles, and air defense systems (03:37).
  • The US must have funding and industrial capacity to replenish these munitions; these needs are urgent for both itself and Gulf region allies.

Risks of Being Under-Prepared

• Chang: What future conflicts could the US be unprepared for due to these shortages? (04:23)
• Starr:
  “If the stockpiles are not topped off, which right now they don’t appear to be, can the US simultaneously prosecute wars in Asia—China or North Korea—the Gulf against Iran, and in Europe against Russia? We think that’s not very likely… In both Europe, where the US is supporting Ukraine, and in the Middle East, they’re already using up weapons. It’s a key reason the stockpile is diminished.” (04:35)

Pentagon’s Concerns and Ripple Effects

• The Pentagon is openly concerned about replenishment timelines. Hegseth himself admits months of replenishment will be necessary, pending Congress funding (05:19).
• Starr:
  “Both the Army and Navy say if they don’t get more funding to replace what they’re spending on this war, they’re going to have to cut back training. So this is beginning to ripple through the system.” (05:19)

Timeline for Replenishment

• Chang: Is months a fair assessment for replenishing the arsenal? (05:59)
• Starr:
  “For some weapons, possibly, but for so-called ‘smart weapons’—very complex weapons...that’s going to take billions of dollars. ...It’s going to be months, if and by the time you replenish, the US is gonna be onto the next generation of those weapons. So this is gonna be a problem that will ripple through the Pentagon for years to come.” (06:07)

Iran’s Arsenal and Replenishment

• Despite major losses, Iran has managed to restore some key missile sites; according to the New York Times, Iran retains part of its pre-war stockpile and is actively restoring capabilities (06:43).
• Starr:
  “Iran has lost, you know, something like 90% of its naval mines...they talk about how much Iran has lost, but ...Iran is able to restore some of its coastal missile sites...and has retained some of its pre-war stockpile...We have seen it in recent days...Can they hold targets at risk? Can they hold US allies at risk? Most certainly.” (06:53)

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Memorable Quotes

• Sen. Mark Kelly (00:21):
  “It’s shocking how deep we have gone into these magazines... the munitions are depleted.”

• Barbara Starr (02:42):
  “I don't think you can make a strong case that it's classified to say we've expended weapons in this war.”

• Barbara Starr (04:35):
  “If the stockpiles are not topped off... can the US simultaneously prosecute wars in Asia, the Gulf, and Europe? We think that’s not very likely.”

• Barbara Starr (05:19):
  “Both the Army and Navy say if they don’t get more funding ... they’re going to have to cut back training.”

• Barbara Starr (06:07):
  “For so-called smart weapons...that’s going to take billions of dollars...this is gonna be a problem that will ripple through the Pentagon for years to come.”

• Barbara Starr (06:53):
  “Iran is able to restore some of its coastal missile sites...and has retained some of its pre-war stockpile...Can they hold targets at risk? ...Most certainly.”

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• Opening context and Kelly–Hegseth conflict: 00:00–01:24
• Discussion of classified vs. public knowledge: 02:32–03:15
• US stockpile depletion and capability risks: 03:15–04:35
• Concerns from military leadership: 05:10–05:59
• Complexity and challenges of replenishment: 06:07–06:43
• Iran’s resilience and ongoing threat: 06:43–07:48

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Final Thoughts

The episode underscores bipartisan concern over the US’s diminished munitions amid ongoing conflict with Iran, and details the logistical and funding challenges of replenishing high-tech military stockpiles. Not only does it highlight the complexity of modern warfare logistics, but it also lays bare the vulnerabilities exposed when extended conflicts meet slow defense industrial output and uncertain future funding. The discussion closes with the recognition that both America's and Iran's abilities to quickly reload their arsenals will shape military and geopolitical realities for years ahead.

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Guests:

• Barbara Starr: former CNN Pentagon correspondent, senior fellow at USC Annenberg Center

Host:

• Ailsa Chang

Transcript

[A]

It's Consider this, where every day we go deep on one big news story. And today, the war in Iran and America's military readiness. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona are at it again, this time over Kelly's recent statements on CBS's Face the Nation.

[B]

I think it's fair to say it's shocking how deep we have gone into these magazines because this president got our country into this without a strategic goal, without a plan, without a timeline. And because of that, we've expended a lot of munitions, and that means the American people are less safe. Whether it's a conflict in the western Pacific with China or somewhere else in the world, the munitions are depleted.

[A]

Hegseth responded with a social media post accusing the Democratic senator of, quote, blaming, blabbing about a classified Pentagon briefing. Earlier this week, Hegseth called for an investigation into Kelly's statements. Lost in this whole back and forth is a real examination of whether the US Military has the resources to fight another war. Consider this. Hegseth is not disputing Kelly's remarks. What does this whole tit for tat between the two of them tell us about America's ability to fight on other fronts?

[C]

Foreign.

[A]

From npr, I'm Ailsa Chang. It's Consider this from npr. Earlier this month, Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate about U.S. munitions, and Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona was the one asking the questions.

[B]

How many years to replenish? That's the question. I think that's exactly the right question to Senator, because the time frame we were existing under was unacceptable. Okay. Well, what this budget does, I mean, months and years, fast years. I mean, we're building new plants in real time. So just to replace what we said, I said months and then you said years.

[A]

So where are we with our ammunition capabilities in this war with Iran? And how does that affect our military capabilities in this conflict and in other conflicts, including any in the near future? Here to talk about that is Barbara Starr, former CNN Pentagon correspondent and current senior fellow at the USC Annenberg center on Communication, Leadership and Policy. Welcome.

[C]

Well, thank you for having me.

[A]

So first off, Barbara, I just want to address what Secretary Hegseth said about Senator Kelly. Was this classified information that Kelly disclosed, do you think?

[C]

I don't think you can make a strong case that it's classified to say we've expended weapons in this war. I mean, this is something every single day as it was going on, the Pentagon was talking about firing weapons against Iranian targets. What becomes classified is if the senator was to get into extreme detail about how much is left in the stockpile, specific munitions, how much they have of this or that. And I didn't see that he got into that kind of detail.

[A]

Right, okay. Well, getting into a little more detail, but not from Senator Kelly. I saw an analysis last month from the center for Strategic and International Studies that said that the military had used up quite a bit of its stockpile, and it listed various categories. I mean, how close are we actually to just running out of weapons at this point after starting this war with Iran?

[C]

Well, the Pentagon's view is that we're not close, that we have plenty left. But, you know, a reality check here. The US has relied a great deal on using its precision weapons stocks. And as those go lower and lower because of the use of them, there has to be a plan in place, both the money, the funding, and the production capability to replenish those stocks. And right now, I think it's fair to say that the big concern is to make sure they replenish the Patriot missiles, the air defense capability. These are the things that have been used up. These are the things that our allies are using in the Gulf. Everybody needs to get more of this back into the stockpile.

[A]

Okay, so paint a picture for us. Can you just put in plain terms, what kind of potential future conflicts is the US Potentially unprepared for, given the supply of the weapons that you have just named?

[C]

Well, I think that's the key question right now, is if the stockpiles are not topped off, which right now they don't appear to be, can the US Simultaneously prosecute wars in Asia? That means China or North Korea, the Gulf against Iran, and in Europe against Russia. We think that's not very likely. But let's face it, in both Europe, where the US Is supporting Ukraine, and in the Middle east, they're already using up weapons. It's a key reason the stockpile is diminished.

[A]

Yeah. Well, are you hearing anything from your Pentagon sources about their concern over the U.S. weapons stockpile?

[C]

Well, you know, it's interesting. Even Pete Hegseth on Capitol Hill in the last few days said it's gotta get replenished and it's gonna take months. He claims there's a plan to do it, but they're going to need funding. And. And already, I think one of the most interesting wrinkles here is we're seeing both the army and the Navy say if they don't get more funding to replace what they are spending on this war, they're going to have to cut back training. So this is beginning to ripple through the system and that means the administration has to send a funding plan to Congress and Congress has to act on it.

[A]

Do you think Hegseth's estimate that this could take months for the stockpile to replenish? Is that a fair estimate? Do you have a sense?

[C]

Well, I think for some weapons, possibly, but for the so called smart weapons, the very complex weapons that have precision fabrication, satellite guided systems that the US Relies so much on right now, that's going to take billions of dollars. I don't know that anybody has a solid estimate. And it's going to be months. If and by the time you replenish, the US Is gonna be onto the next generation of those weapons. So this is gonna be a problem that will ripple through the Pentagon for years to come. Of course.

[A]

Okay, well then in the meantime, in terms of Iran's capabilities, what have we learned about their arsenal or their ability to replenish their stockpile?

[C]

Well, it's interesting you ask because top U.S. officials say that Iran has lost, you know, something like 90% of its naval mines has lost its missile capability. They talk about how much Iran has lost, but in the meantime, there's significant reporting out there, especially from the New York Times, that Iran is able to, has been able to restore some of its coastal missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz and that it has retained some of its pre war stockpile. And, and we know that Iran still has the capability to fire its weapons. We have seen it in recent days.

[A]

Exactly.

[C]

Is it what it was before the war? No. But can they hold targets at risk? Can they hold US Allies at risk? Most certainly.

[A]

Barbara Starr, former CNN Pentagon correspondent and current senior fellow at the USC Annenberg center on Communication, Leadership and Policy. Thank you very much.

[C]

Thanks for having me.

[A]

This episode was produced by Lauren Hodges with audio engineering by Hannah Glovna. It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Timby Ermias. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun. It's consider this from npr. I'm Ailsa Chang.