U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Sunday the military has “everything that it needs” to conduct operations against Iran, dismissing widespread reports that the Pentagon’s munitions stockpiles have been depleted by the ongoing conflict.
Waltz made the assertion during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on July 26, stating: “I want to be crystal clear: The U.S. military — and I’ve verified this every which way — has everything that it needs to conduct this campaign as effectively as it needs to be.” He also said those leaking information about weapons shortages “deserve to be in jail.”
Waltz blamed the Biden administration for the depletion of stockpiles, citing U.S. military aid to Ukraine over several years and ongoing operations against the Houthis in the Red Sea. “A lot of stockpiles were depleted not only from what we gave Ukraine over the last four or five years,” Waltz told NBC host Kristen Welker. He added that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “inherited a depleted situation” from those prior commitments.
The ambassador’s comments come amid mounting evidence that the Iran war has strained U.S. military readiness. NBC News reported Friday that U.S. military commanders have been selectively choosing which Iranian missiles and explosive-packed drones to intercept in an effort to preserve the Pentagon’s diminishing supply of air defense weapons.
The Readiness Challenge
Military analysts have assessed that replenishing U.S. weapons stockpiles could take until 2030 or later—a timeline that depends on Congress approving additional funding for the war. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated it could take three or more years to rebuild inventories to pre-Iran war levels, particularly for critical systems like THAAD air defense missiles.
Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier this week against Congress failing to approve the $21 billion in the administration’s supplemental request for munitions. “If we don’t figure out how to properly fund the department, we’re not going to get the munitions,” Caine told Senator Deb Fischer, a Nebraska Republican.
House Republicans on Wednesday approved a $95 billion framework for a budget reconciliation package that would, in part, boost Pentagon funding. However, that vote was only the first step in a multistep process, with the package’s prospects unclear in the Senate. The House departed for its August recess on Thursday, while the Senate’s final day before its summer break is Friday.
Waltz also noted that the U.S. is transitioning to newer munitions technologies that are cheaper to deploy against Iran, suggesting this shift could help offset stockpile concerns. He declined to commit to a timeline for ending the conflict when pressed by Welker, saying the Trump administration is “keeping all options on the table” and currently giving diplomatic talks “some space.”
Sources
- The Hill — Waltz’s July 26 NBC interview, Biden administration blame, Hegseth’s inherited situation, NBC News report on selective interception, military analyst assessment of 4+ year restock timeline, Gen. Caine’s Senate testimony on munitions funding, House Republican $95 billion budget framework
- New York Post — Waltz’s “everything that it needs” quote, his comments on leakers, Biden administration depletion, newer munitions technologies, Trump’s pause on strikes
- NBC News — Full Meet the Press interview with Waltz on July 26
