How long can Iran keep firing missiles? - Financial Times

Financial Times
March 28, 2026
4 min read

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Iran's ability to sustain ballistic missile strikes faces constraints from sanctions, production capacity limits, and depleting stockpiles.

AI Summary

Iran's capacity to sustain ballistic missile strikes depends on its domestic production capabilities, defense budgets, and access to foreign suppliers—all of which face significant constraints. The Financial Times examines how Tehran's missile program, despite years of sanctions and international isolation, has developed indigenous manufacturing that allows it to maintain stockpiles and conduct repeated attacks. Iran has demonstrated this capability in recent regional escalations, including strikes on Israel, but experts assess that sustained high-tempo operations would strain its resources and potentially deplete reserves faster than production can replace them. The analysis reflects broader concerns about Iran's military resilience in a volatile Middle East, where missile capabilities serve as both a deterrent and an instrument of regional power projection. Understanding Iran's missile endurance is critical for assessing how long regional tensions could persist and what threshold of attrition might force Tehran to recalculate its military posture.

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