US THAAD arsenal nearly 80% depleted as Iran talks progress: Report

The US military has used nearly 80 per cent of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) interceptors since the start of the war with Iran. Senior military commanders have warned that Pentagon munitions stocks are “dangerously low”.According to a CNN report citing two sources familiar with the latest inventory figures, the US has used nearly four-fifths of its Thaad missile inventory compared with pre-war levels, along with roughly half of its Patriot interceptors. The depletion of the Thaad stockpile has not previously been reported.The center for strategic and international studies estimates that the US had around 2,200 Patriots and 452 Thaad missiles before the war.The shortage has also raised concerns among Gulf allies that reduced US air-defence stocks could weaken their ability to respond to potential Iranian missile and drone attacks if US president Donald Trump decides to escalate the conflict.Earlier, Trump told Fox News that Washington and Iran were engaged in 'very good discussions', despite repeated denials from Iranian officials. “We’re having very good discussions. They don’t like to admit that,” Trump said, adding that “they want to make a deal”.“The only thing that matters is action, and they want to make a deal. We’ll see what happens. If they don’t make a deal, it’s going to be too bad,” he added.Meanwhile, Axios reported that the US, Iran and Oman are nearing an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington aiming to announce a deal as early as Wednesday, citing two regional sources and a US official.According to the CNN report, the issue was discussed before Trump called off planned strikes on Iran last weekend. A senior Trump official told the media outlet that Trump had been preparing for major strikes, with defense secretary Pete Hegseth receiving the final “go ahead” order on Friday. Trump subsequently decided to stand down after discussions with Middle East allies over the risk of Iranian retaliation against energy infrastructure.Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told CNN, “America’s military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the President’s choosing.”“We have executed multiple successful operations across combatant commands while ensuring the U.S. military possesses a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and our interests,” he added.Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the US military “has more than enough munitions, ammo, and stockpiles to serve all of President Trump’s strategic goals and beyond.”Reuters separately had reported on Tuesday that US officials were concerned about dwindling stocks of long-range precision weapons. Sources told the news agency they could not say how many of each munition remained.Reuters also reported that US forces had used “virtually all” of certain highly accurate long-range surface-to-air weapons. The extent to which the military’s Army tactical missile systems (Atacms) and precision strike missiles (Prsm) stocks have fallen had not previously been reported.Similar reports have continued to emerge. Trump, however, previously refuted such claims, saying the US has “far more munitions than anyone in the world” and “far more than we need.” He added that US defence companies are currently producing more munitions than ever before while expanding their plants and equipment at record levels.A Reuters source said Central Command has been able to replenish supplies from US military stocks held around the world.