Retired US Air Force colonel Cedric Leighton said Iran may have an edge in
sustaining a prolonged conflict because it retains large weapon stocks while the
US is drawing down high-end precision-guided munitions that could take years to
replenish. Leighton said Iran still holds substantial reserves of missiles,
drones and rockets and estimated Tehran retains roughly two‑thirds of its
original stocks despite months of US strikes. He said US strikes have destroyed
command-and-control nodes, weapons systems and military infrastructure but have
not degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacks. Leighton cited an estimate that
more than 1,400 Patriot interceptors may have been expended so far; if accurate,
US air defenses elsewhere could be vulnerable while inventories are rebuilt.
