US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz on Sunday forcefully rejected reports suggesting that America’s critical munitions reserves are nearing dangerous lows as the war with Iran continues.
Waltz dismissed claims that US strikes on Iran have significantly weakened the nation’s arsenal, arguing that although the war in Ukraine has put pressure on some American supplies, the United States still has ample firepower to confront Tehran.
“I want to be crystal clear: The US 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,” Waltz said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“I have to tell you, the people that are leaking this nonsense deserve to be in jail.”
Waltz also pointed to the US military’s use of newer, lower-cost munitions technologies to carry out operations against Iran, saying the shift has helped ease pressure on traditional stockpiles.
“A lot of stockpiles were depleted not only from what we gave Ukraine over the last however many years, four or five years. And Secretary Hegseth inherited a depleted situation from not only Ukraine but also the ongoing fight with the Houthis under the Biden administration,” Waltz contended.
President Trump has likewise sought to tamp down concerns over US weapons stockpiles, repeatedly insisting that the military remains well equipped.
Sunday marked the second straight day without US attacks on Iran, as Trump appeared to pause the strikes and Tehran responded in kind.
Before that, Trump had reportedly been contemplating a major escalation, but rumors swirled that concerns about the US stockpiles were a factor in his decision against doing so for now.
Waltz, asked if Trump has decided against pursuing threatened escalation, replied, “I wouldn’t go that far at all.
“The president is keeping all options on the table,” he said. “What the president is doing right now, as we’ve seen all along, is giving the talks some space. Talks are ongoing.”
Waltz said there is “internal fighting” going on within Iran that “makes it hugely challenging from a diplomatic standpoint to get to some reasonable resolution.”
The brief pause in attacks occurred after roughly two weeks of resumed US strikes against Iran. America reupped its assaults when the Islamic Republic made repeated attacks against vessels in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month.
Last week, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth testified before lawmakers in Congress seeking a $67 billion supplemental package for the Pentagon amid concerns that funding is running dry because of the cost of the war.
