UNITED NATIONS — U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz asserted that the U.S. military has all necessary resources to conduct effective military operations against Iran. Waltz stated that he had verified the military's readiness and criticized reports suggesting otherwise.

Waltz addressed concerns about weapon availability during his remarks at the United Nations. "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 said.

The ambassador's comments countered recent media reports regarding U.S. defense capabilities. That U.S. military commanders are allowing some Iranian attacks through U.S. defenses to preserve weapons supplies, citing two senior U.S. officials. NBC News previously reported that U.S. weapons stockpiles are diminishing as the conflict with Iran continues.

He directed sharp criticism at those responsible for circulating information about supply shortages. "And I have to tell you, the people that are leaking this nonsense deserve to be in jail," he said. He attributed the current state of military readiness to decisions made by the previous administration.

The Biden administration left a depleted military situation due to involvement in Ukraine and ongoing operations against the Houthis. "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ‘inherited a depleted situation from not only Ukraine, but also the ongoing fight with the Houthis under the Biden administration and a depleted military under the Biden administration,’" he said.

Pete Hegseth is the U.S. Secretary of Defense. He noted that the U.S. military under the Trump administration is transitioning to new types of cheaper munitions and new technologies. New defense budgets are being used to rebuild the U.S. military.

Hegseth requested $67 billion in supplemental funding last week to expand weapons production and speed up delivery. Defense Secretary Hegseth testified in April 2026 that rebuilding U.S. weapons stockpiles could take 'months and years,' citing the $37.5 billion in costs incurred during the Iran conflict. Hegseth acknowledged in April that rebuilding the weapons stockpile could take months and years.

Analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) provides context on the scale of munitions usage. The CSIS analysis revealed that by April 2026, the Pentagon had fired approximately 50% of its THAAD ballistic missile interceptors, 50% of its Patriot air defense interceptors, and 30% of its Tomahawk land-attack missiles during the Iran conflict.

A CSIS report showed that over 1,000 Tomahawk missiles were launched during the Iran conflict, exceeding the average annual procurement of 86 missiles over the past decade. Replenishing these stocks presents significant logistical challenges. CSIS estimated that replenishing depleted THAAD interceptors to pre-Iran war levels would take until mid-to-late 2029, with no THAAD deliveries forecast for 2026, while Tomahawk missile replenishment could take until 2030 or 2031 due to low production rates.

Current delivery rates remain below historical averages. U.S. military officials reported that only 15 Tomahawk missiles and 20 Patriot missiles are being delivered monthly under current fiscal year schedules, far below the pre-Iran war procurement rates of 86 Tomahawks annually.

The divergence between official assurances of military readiness and reports of depleted stockpiles shows the strain placed on U.S. defense resources by concurrent global conflicts. The Iran conflict has resulted in high munitions consumption, with over 1,000 Tomahawk missiles launched and significant percentages of air defense interceptors expended.

Rebuilding these inventories requires substantial financial investment and time. The requested $67 billion in supplemental funding aims to accelerate production, but experts estimate that full replenishment of key systems like THAAD and Tomahawks could extend into the next decade. This timeline reflects the long-term logistical and budgetary commitments necessary to restore pre-conflict stockpile levels.