US War Secretary Rejects Senator’s Claim Of Ammunition Shortages After Iran Conflict

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has rejected claims by a US senator that American ammunition stockpiles have been significantly depleted following the recent war involving Iran, calling the remarks inaccurate and misleading.
In a post on X on Sunday, Hegseth responded to comments made by Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, saying the lawmaker had misinterpreted information from a classified Pentagon briefing and was presenting it incorrectly in public.
Hegseth wrote that “Mark Kelly is at it again,” accusing the senator of spreading false interpretations of sensitive defense information in media appearances.
The dispute follows an interview in which Kelly told CBS that the Pentagon had informed him the United States had used a large volume of its munitions during the Iran-related conflict, raising concerns about long-term military readiness.
Kelly also warned that replenishing US ammunition stockpiles could take years and said shortages might limit America’s ability to respond effectively in a potential future confrontation with China.
The Pentagon has not publicly released detailed figures on ammunition usage during recent military operations, but US defense officials have previously acknowledged increased pressure on supply chains due to sustained global deployments and arms deliveries to allies.
The debate highlights growing political divisions in Washington over defense readiness, military spending and the long-term sustainability of US global military engagement amid rising geopolitical tensions.
The United States has also been reassessing its industrial capacity for weapons production, as officials warn that modern warfare demands significantly higher ammunition output than pre-existing stockpile models anticipated.