Pentagon presses weapons makers as Trump downplays Iran war stockpile concerns

President Donald Trump said the United States was willing to wait for a peace agreement with Iran, describing the talks as limited and saying Washington was watching Iran’s economy.

The Pentagon has urged U.S. defense companies to speed weapons production and deliveries. A memo from Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg gave industry three weeks to submit plans for faster delivery times or increased production, according to U.S. media outlets cited by DW.

The push follows reports of declining U.S. weapons stocks during the Iran war. CSIS estimated the United States had fewer than 830 Patriot defense missiles at the end of July, down from more than 2,300 at the start of the war five months earlier.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing last month that the war had cost $37.5 billion so far. He was questioned about a $1.5 trillion defense budget request that included nearly $70 billion for the war with Iran.

Read the full story at dw.com.