Trump dismisses fears of running out of weapons stockpile, says 'we've got way more ammunition than anybody in the world'

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) dismissed claims that Washington was facing a depleting arms stockpile, adding that “we have far more ammunition than anyone in the world and far more than we need”.

Trump made the remarks to The Wall Street Journal days after The New York Times reported that the administration had halted plans to expand military operations in Tehran amid concerns that the protracted conflict could further deplete the Pentagon’s already depleted stockpile of Patriot anti-aircraft missiles and other Middle East air defense munitions.

Read also | US-Iran War: Trump Reportedly Shedding Plan to Expand Military Campaign

Can the US continue to reduce inventories? Here’s what officials believe

According to officials cited by The Wall Street Journal, the top commander of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, believes that Washington’s troops can handle the limited inventory of Patriot and other air defense fighters.

The officials added that by July 24, the US military was ready to launch an intense series of strikes against Tehran that could last up to two weeks. But the decision was delayed to pave the way for diplomacy as officials debated the effect a major attack could have on already dwindling ammunition stocks. The situation remains fluid and Trump can still order an attack.

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently briefed the White House on the nation’s dwindling air defense stockpile. The issue continues to worry Caine, who believes that low stockpiles would not prevent the resumption of major combat operations against Iran, but would increase the risks associated with such a move.

US ability to defend against adversaries?

Analysts have repeatedly warned that the large number of anti-missile interceptors used to intercept Iranian missiles could hinder Washington’s ability to deter adversaries around the world, including China.

In early April, a Center for Strategic and International Studies report by Mark Canciano, a retired Marine Corps colonel, and Chris Park, a research fellow at the think tank, noted, “Reduced ammunition stocks have created a short-term risk,” adding, “A war against a capable competitor like China will use up ammunition faster than this war.”

The report examined seven key munitions used in the Iran war. Cancian and Park, who updated their April assessment, said in an interview Sunday that they now estimate at least 1,500 Patriot anti-missile missiles have been used since the conflict began, leaving the U.S. with fewer than 1,000 interceptors in its inventory.

In early April, a CNN report suggested that Washington had used 45 percent of its stockpile of precision-guided missiles, at least half of its inventory of THAAD missiles, which are used to intercept ballistic missiles, and about 50 percent of its Patriot anti-aircraft missiles during the seven weeks of its war with Iran.

Read also | Nearly half of US military stocks depleted during Iran war: Report

Trump warns Iran ‘locked and loaded’.

Last week, the US president told reporters ahead of a meeting with top cabinet officials that Washington was prepared to carry out heavier strikes if it ordered the military to do so. He said, “Look, we’re locked and loaded,” adding, “We’re ready to go, but we’re talking to them, so there may or may not be a tipping point.”

He went on to say, “There is a military exit where we just continue as we are and we can even make it a bigger batch and it will knock out everything they have.” “Or there’s a smarter strategy that you make a deal. And they want to make a deal,” he added.

The development comes as both sides have renewed hostilities but are leaving the door open for diplomacy to end the conflict. However, it remains to be seen whether the brief cessation of strikes will turn into a longer truce.