The US has fired so many munitions in its war on Iran that some officials are concerned it would not be able to fully execute its plan to defend Taiwan against a potential Chinese invasion in the near term, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The WSJ reported on Thursday that if China were to invade Taiwan, the US would suffer from a munitions gap “in the short term”, which could expose American soldiers to increased risk.
The report said the US alone had fired 1,500 to 2,000 air defence missiles in Iran. In addition, it has burned through offensive supplies, including 1,000 Tomahawk missiles.
According to the WSJ, replacing those supplies could take up to six years, sparking a conversation among some US officials about adjusting plans for the defence of Taiwan.
Middle East Eye reported at the onset of the US-Israeli war on Iran that Gulf states seeking refills of missile interceptors, such as Patriots, were brushed off by the US, which had already exhausted supplies defending Israel during the June 2025 war with Iran.
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As the war on Iran drags on, the situation has become more critical. Iran has fired thousands of missiles and drones at Gulf states, with countries like Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE bearing the brunt of the attacks.
One sign that the US has been unable to meet the demand of Gulf states is that Ukraine has stepped into the vacuum. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Ukraine had signed deals with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar that focused on countering Iranian drones.
Ukraine has developed cheaper technology than the US Patriot systems to defend against Iranian drones, which Russia has used in its war with Ukraine.
The Trump administration has discussed bolstering investments in the US defence industry. The Pentagon on Tuesday revealed plans for a $1.5 trillion budget, the largest in US history.
Some analysts have speculated that the US-Israeli war on Iran has boosted China’s sway on the world stage by depleting the US’s arsenal and distracting it from Asia.
MEE previously reported that China sold air defence systems to Iran after the June 2025 war, and later, drones.
The New York Times reported on Saturday that China may have delivered shoulder-fired missiles to Iran.