Why does the U.S. military seem stymied in the war with Iran?
Why does the U.S. military seem stymied in the war with Iran? AUGUST 19, 2026 12:18 PM ET By Dave Davies 44-Minute Listen TRANSCRIPT Defense analyst Stacie Pettyjohn says while the U.S. military is facing long-range missile shortages, prolonged deployments and vacated regional bases, Iran is building cheaper weapons quickly. Sponsor Message Transcript DAVE DAVIES, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. I'm Dave Davies. Throughout the war with Iran, President Donald Trump and his team have touted the success of their punishing airstrikes, asserting that Iran's missile capability has been functionally destroyed, that its munitions factories have been flattened. But there's plenty of recent reporting to suggest that 5 1/2 months into the war, the U.S. military's ability to dictate terms to Iran is increasingly limited by the depletion of American weapons stockpiles, the threat Iran can still pose to U.S. bases and allies in the region and Iran's control of the state of Hormuz. For ...