President Donald Trump claimed on Thursday that the United States has “massive amounts” of munitions, pushing back against reports that the Pentagon’s stockpile has been depleted after five months of war with Iran. His assertion came as negotiations between Washington and Tehran appear stalled, with Iran’s parliament speaker accusing Trump of “theater diplomacy.”
Trump acknowledged that certain advanced munitions are in “tighter” supply but insisted the US has ample reserves of less-advanced weapons. “We have literally massive amounts of ammunition,” he said in the Oval Office, adding that defense contractors are ramping up production of Patriot missile interceptors and Tomahawk missiles.
The Trump claim directly contradicts recent reporting from military analysts and news outlets. Reuters reported that the US has used “virtually all” its stockpile of Army Tactical Missile Systems and Precision Strike Missiles during the war. Al Jazeera reported in mid-July that the US has expended half of at least four of its most critical munitions since the conflict began on February 28.
Trump has also privately complained that reports of dwindling munitions make the US appear weak in negotiations, according to senior US officials cited by CNN. Yet publicly, he continues to deny the shortages while maintaining that negotiations with Iran are progressing.
Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf rejected Trump’s negotiation claims on Thursday, writing on social media: “‘Massive attack coming… wait, never mind, they want to negotiate.’ That’s theater diplomacy on loop.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry has repeatedly denied that direct US-Iran talks are taking place, though mediators including Oman are working to pass messages between the two sides.
The Negotiation Impasse
Trump called off what he described as the largest US military attack since World War II over the weekend, citing progress in talks and a request from Iran to negotiate. However, the two sides have given sharply conflicting accounts of whether formal negotiations are underway.
Iran and Oman are close to finalizing a proposed framework for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Tehran’s deputy foreign minister. Yet even this partial progress has been shadowed by dispute: Iran has drafted a bill in parliament that would bar vessels from the US, Israel, and other countries Iran considers hostile from transiting the crucial waterway.
Trump has warned Iran repeatedly that ongoing talks represent a “last chance” to reach a deal and avoid escalation. However, the divergent narratives—Trump claiming negotiations are happening while Iran denies direct talks—underscore the deep mistrust between the two sides even as mediators attempt to broker an agreement.
Sources
- CNN — Trump’s claims about munitions stockpiles, acknowledgment of “tighter” supplies, private complaints about appearing weak in negotiations, Iran’s denial of talks, Ghalibaf’s “theater diplomacy” accusation, and updates on Strait of Hormuz negotiations
- Reuters — Report that the US has used “virtually all” its stockpile of Army Tactical Missile Systems and Precision Strike Missiles
- Al Jazeera — Report that the US has expended half of at least four critical munitions since the conflict began February 28
