Iran is producing ballistic missiles again: Report

Iran has resumed production of ballistic missiles, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, contradicting the Trump administration’s claims that Tehran’s military capabilities have been destroyed in the months-long conflict with the U.S.

Iran has assembled new missiles using existing components in more limited quantities than before the war in several underground sites, including the Khojir missile facility in southeastern Iran, U.S. and Middle Eastern officials told the Journal . The regime is also working on new underground assembly sites to avoid renewed American attacks.

The U.S. and Israel have damaged several of Iran’s industrial facilities, and the U.S. naval blockade has prevented parts and ingredients for fuel from being imported. One U.S. official told the outlet that Iran likely resumed production after it and the U.S. signed an interim peace deal to end the war in June.

Tal Inbar, a senior analyst at the U.S.-based Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, told the Journal that Iran likely still has thousands of ballistic missiles.

A White House official told The Hill that the U.S. “is watching Iran and has eyes on their every move,” repeating the president’s past remarks that U.S. strikes have eliminated Iran’s industrial facilities, navy, air defenses and nuclear facilities.

“Iran is weaker now than ever before, and President Trump will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” the official said.

The Hill has also reached out to the Defense and State departments for comment.

Defense Department spokesperson Sean Parnell told the Journal that the U.S. has “destroyed up to 90% of Iran’s drone, ballistic missile, and naval industrial base” and “significantly degraded” its drone and missile capabilities.

Iranian officials told the state-run Fars News Agency on Thursday that it would have further developments to its defense capabilities.

“Soon, you will see a tip of this iceberg,” Iran’s Defense Ministry told the outlet.

Tehran launched several ballistic missiles at multiple American military aircraft at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, CBS News reported Thursday. The attack was in response to U.S. strikes on five Iranian oil tankers Tuesday.

Trump denied the report , telling NewsNation’s Robert Sherman that there was no damage, “none whatsoever.”

The conflict has stretched into its sixth month, with no deal for peace apparently in sight. The U.S. and Iran have quarreled over control of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has closed off, effectively preventing roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply from being exported out of the region. This has caused gas prices to skyrocket, adding to the conflict’s unpopularity among Americans.

Trump, while en route to the Republican National Committee midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday, said the conflict would end “immediately” after the midterm elections. He later admitted that the conflict will likely go on past the November elections.

“Yes, a negotiation could possibly happen, but it’s not something we’re looking at,” he told reporters.