US President Donald Trump has publicly acknowledged that the prolonged war with Iran has reduced supplies of some critical weapons and ammunition in the US military’s arsenal. However, he has promised that the shortages will be replenished soon.
Trump made the comments in an interview published Friday, October 2, by *TIME* magazine.
Since the war with Iran began in late February this year, US forces have used large quantities of long-range ground-attack missiles as well as interceptors for air and missile defense systems. A July assessment by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found that stocks of critical missile-defense systems such as Patriot and THAAD had fallen to concerning levels, with some inventories reduced by more than half. A report by the Pentagon’s inspector general in mid-July had also highlighted shortages and delays in weapons supplies. Trump had previously dismissed those findings as “fake news.”
In his interview with *TIME*, however, Trump partially acknowledged the shortages, saying that supplies of certain types of ammunition had declined more than others. He added that the United States still had large quantities of highly capable weapons, including medium- and upper-medium-range systems.
Although he did not provide specific details, Trump said US defense contractors were establishing new production facilities across the country to manufacture Patriot and THAAD missiles as part of efforts to address the shortages.
## Impact on Elections and the US Economy
Although Trump has previously claimed that the United States has already won the war with Iran, he indicated in the interview that US air and missile strikes against Iran could intensify again after the November midterm elections. He also rejected as unacceptable a recent proposal from Iran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, concerns are growing that the unpopular war could contribute to higher inflation and increased living costs in the United States. A recent poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center found that only 26% of Americans approved of Trump’s handling of the economy, the lowest level of his presidency.
Trump dismissed the polling figure as “fake numbers” and expressed confidence that by campaigning for Republican candidates during the midterm elections, he would be able to help them win.
