The United States could face a serious missile shortage if its military confrontation with Iran continues, The New York Post reports, citing assessments from American defense experts and former government officials.

Those interviewed agreed that current US weapons stockpiles are insufficient for a prolonged war. An extended confrontation with Tehran could heavily drain American arsenals and weaken the country’s broader defense capabilities.

According to the newspaper, recent strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities required the use of large numbers of Tomahawk cruise missiles, interceptors for Patriot and THAAD air defense systems, and other long-range munitions.

The experts warned that if the conflict expands further, the rate at which missiles are used could exceed the ability of the US defense industry to replace them.

Iran’s changing tactics are adding further pressure. Tehran is increasingly relying on drones and missiles, forcing American air defense systems to expend costly interceptors and sharply increasing the price of repelling attacks.

The situation is further complicated by limited US production capacity for precision-guided weapons. Washington must also maintain sufficient military reserves for possible operations in other parts of the world, particularly East Asia.