How Long Will The Ayatollahs' Regime Last?
- 5.03.2026, 12:28
The Times gave an assessment.
The Gulf states, Israel and the US assure that they have enough interceptor missiles to last the long haul in a war with Iran. However, as The Times writes, estimates are less optimistic in private conversations.
In the meantime, Iran cannot wage war indefinitely. Since Saturday, it has fired at least 540 missiles at Gulf states and the same number at Israel, as well as more than 1,000 drones.
"Estimates of Iran's arsenal have been vague, especially after last year's war, but it is believed to number around 2,000 missiles, with the US saying Iran has the capability to produce 100 missiles a month," the piece noted.
The arsenal includes the Fattah 1 and 2 hypersonic missiles, which Iran claims are maneuverable in flight and can carry a warhead weighing up to 450 kilograms. The larger Emad missile, which is claimed to have a range of more than 1,000 km, can carry a warhead weighing nearly 800 kg.
"The regime could also employ its satellite-guided Kheibar Shekan missile and possibly the new Qassem Basir missile, which is said to be equipped with evasive defense capabilities. Iran's main weapon, however, is the Shahed drone. This relatively cheap, long-range weapon has changed the course of the war in Ukraine," The Times recalled.
At the same time, the US has said that one of the goals of the war is to destroy Iran's ballistic missiles and UAVs, as well as their production facilities. But Iranian attacks continue, among them the bombing of the U.S. consulate in Dubai on Tuesday night.
"We don't know how much stockpile is left or how fast the Americans and Israelis are doing their job. The problem is not just the launchers but also the infrastructure: drone and missile factories," one Persian Gulf source said.
The Times writes that the only thing that matters in this situation is the numbers. Iran has few air defense systems - most of Russia's outdated systems have been destroyed by Israeli airstrikes over the past few years. Whereas the US and Israel have almost complete control of Iran's airspace.