Iran has stocks of thousands of missiles and drones secured and ready to use despite Israeli airstrikes and it is prepared to use them against any new attacks, the army said.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Iranian Foreign Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The army’s announcement of having plentiful stocks of missiles aligns with Iran’s threats of severe retaliation if the conflict with Israel reignites and it comes at a time of contuning tension after the Israeli and U.S. attacks on its nuclear facilities. Iran launched missiles and drones during its direct 12-day confrontation with Israel, as well as in a retaliatory attack on an American air base in Qatar. Iran’s open threats are another indication that the current ceasefire may be only a pause in a larger conflict.
Soldiers march during a military parade to mark Iran’s annual Army Day in Tehran on April 18, 2025.
Soldiers march during a military parade to mark Iran’s annual Army Day in Tehran on April 18, 2025.
ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images
What To Know
Major General Yahya Rahim-Safavi, a senior military advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said several thousand missiles and drones had been stockpiled in fortified locations for rapid use in the event of any act of aggression, according to Press TV.
He said that the army had not used its “full capabilities” in repelling Israeli attacks, noting that major military branches—like the Navy and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force—were not mobilized.
Military commanders have threatened “crushing” responses to renewed Israeli attacks. Israeli strikes caught Iran by surprise, according to Iranian officials interviewed by The New York Times — hitting its nuclear and missile infrastructure and killing key commanders and scientists.
What People Are Saying
Senior Military Adviser to Khamenei Major General Yahya Rahim-Safavi, ass quoted by Press TV: “We have produced several thousand missiles and drones so far, and their place is secure. Peaceful nuclear energy and the manufacturing of missiles are the results of indigenous knowledge, intellect, and science, and thus they cannot be destroyed.”
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) wrote on X Thursday: “12 days. One objective: protect Israel. We struck Iran’s nuclear program, missile infrastructure, and terror leadership, before they could act. This is defense.”
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters: “We have scheduled Iran talks, and they want to. They want to talk.
What Happens Next
Despite President Donald Trump‘s statement that Iran is ready for talks and that he may discuss a longer-term agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it remains unclear if Iran will engage in negotiations on its nuclear program.