An analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) says the U.S. “may have expended more than half of the prewar inventory” of at least four key munitions, including Tomahawk cruise missiles. CSIS analyst Mark Cancian told CBS News the usage is substantial and that it will take years to rebuild inventories, producing a window of vulnerability for future high-end conflicts.
Cancian said the U.S. has repositioned assets and moved munitions from key theaters such as the Indo‑Pacific to the Middle East to sustain operations in the war with Iran. In the short term he does not see the U.S. running out of munitions in the next several months, but he warned that reduced stockpiles in places like the Indo‑Pacific could weaken U.S. posture if another major competitor, such as China, confronts the United States. Replenishing complex weapons like Tomahawks and air‑defense interceptors requires production and time, meaning even with funding it would take years to rebuild to prewar levels.
Separately, the White House announced it is sending envoys to Pakistan — Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — for possible mediation talks aimed at de‑escalation. The U.S. says the envoys will “hear the Iranians out,” but Iran’s foreign ministry has said there are no plans for direct U.S.–Iran meetings; instead, Pakistan will relay messages between the sides.
Key issues on the table for mediators include maritime security and the blockades in the Strait of Hormuz: the U.S. has imposed a naval interdiction while Iran has mined parts of the waterway and demanded payments or “tolls” for passage. Negotiators also must address Iran’s nuclear program, including whether Tehran would give up enrichment capabilities and its stock of highly enriched uranium — material that can be used for weapons — and whether the U.S. is willing to offer sanctions relief or unfreeze Iranian assets as part of a settlement.
CSIS’s assessment signals immediate operational strain on munitions supplies and highlights broader strategic implications: high rates of use in this conflict degrade readiness for other contingencies, and rebuilding advanced inventories is neither quick nor inexpensive.