Trump Says Iran Has Just 21% Of Missiles Left, Insists Tehran 'Has No Choice' But To Reach Deal

Last Updated:June 06, 2026, 05:06 IST

Trump said the US had "totally destroyed" Iran's military capabilities, but acknowledged that Tehran still possesses the ability to launch attacks.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran still retains around 21-22 per cent of its missile arsenal, even as he claimed that American strikes have devastated much of Tehran’s military infrastructure during the ongoing conflict.

Trump said the US had “totally destroyed" Iran’s military capabilities, including much of its missile and drone production network, but acknowledged that Tehran still possesses the ability to launch attacks.

“Most of the drone factories have been knocked out, most of the launching pads have been knocked out, and most of the missile manufacturing areas have been knocked out. But they still have capacity. They have some missiles, they have some drones," Trump told NBC News.

“I would say percentagewise, maybe 21%-22% of their missiles. It’s a lot of missiles, but it’s not what it was when we first attacked," he added.

The estimate is higher than the 18 per cent figure Trump cited in May, though the US president has repeatedly maintained that American operations have severely degraded Iran’s war-fighting capabilities.

Also Read | ‘It’s Really Not Much Of A War’: Trump Says Iran Negotiations ‘Going Quite Well’

Iran Continues Missile, Drone Strikes

Trump’s remarks come amid continued tensions despite an uneasy ceasefire and ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Earlier this week, Iran launched missiles and drones towards US allies in the Gulf region. Kuwait said it intercepted 30 ballistic missiles fired as part of what it described as “heinous Iranian aggression".

On Friday, Iran’s military also claimed it had fired “warning missiles" at two US destroyers in the Gulf of Oman, forcing them to leave the area. The US military swiftly rejected the claim, saying no such incident had occurred.

Later, Iran launched multiple drones towards the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a swift military response from the United States, which shot down at least four of the aircraft, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM). US forces also carried out retaliatory strikes on Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites at Goruk and on Qeshm Island.

The latest exchanges have underscored the fragility of the ceasefire, with both sides accusing each other of provocative actions while simultaneously pursuing diplomatic talks.

Trump Says Iran Has ‘No Choice’ But To Reach Deal

Despite the continued hostilities, Trump expressed confidence that a negotiated settlement remains possible.

The US president suggested that Iranian leaders have yet to agree to Washington’s terms because of national pride rather than a lack of military pressure.

“They’re strong, they’re proud. There are things they never thought they’d be doing that they’re going to have to do," Trump said.

“They’ve got no choice, and it takes a little while."

Trump has repeatedly argued that the conflict can be resolved either through diplomacy or continued military pressure, while Iranian officials have maintained that negotiations remain at a “deadlock" unless the United States agrees to key demands, including the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets.

About the Author

Saurabh VermaSenior Sub-editor

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Chief Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

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