Iran’s primary weapons against regional U.S. military bases and Israel are its ballistic missiles. Iran also maintains an extensive drone force and a navy, which it has used to attack shipping in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz.

After just six days of conflict, however, Iran’s naval assets, missile stockpiles, and drone supplies are being rapidly depleted. And unlike the United States, Irancannot replenishthem while its production facilities and launch infrastructure are under sustained bombardment.

Some reports claim that as many as17 Iranian surfaceships and one submarinehave been destroyed. Satellite images reviewed by BBC Verify indicate that a wave of U.S. and Israeli strikes has destroyed or damagedat least 11Iranian naval vessels since Saturday, along with missile bases and nuclear-related facilities. Images from the Konarak naval base and the Bandar Abbas port facility, which houses the headquarters of the Iranian navy on the Strait of Hormuz, show smoke rising from multiple ships.

Among the vessels reportedly destroyed was theIRINS Makran, Iran’s largest naval ship, which had been converted to serve as a drone carrier. Satellite imagery showed thick smoke pouring from the vessel while docked at Bandar Abbas. Maritime security firm Vanguard reported that the IRIS Bayandor, IRIS Naghdi, and IRIS Jamaran were also destroyed. The firm further claimed that the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, a modern drone-carrier ship launched in 2025, had been sunk, although BBC Verify said it could not independently confirm that claim.

The commander of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, said that 17 Iranian vessels, including the navy’s “most operational” submarine, had been destroyed. According to Global Firepower,Iran’s navyranks35th in the world. It is comprised of 109 vessels, including 0 aircraft carriers, 0 helicopter carriers, 0 destroyers, 7 frigates, 3 corvettes, and 25 submarines. The rest are small patrol boats and support ships. None of itssubmarines are nuclear. The Iranian navy relies on a fleet of diesel-electric attack submarines, including Russian-made Kilo-class, indigenous Fateh-class, and smaller Ghadir-class midget submarines designed for shallow-water operations and coastal defense.

Cooper said that for decades Iran had harassed international shipping, adding that there was currently not a single Iranian vessel underway in the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, or the Gulf of Oman. Some vessels may have been obscured by cloud cover or smoke in satellite images, or may have been struck at sea, making independent verification difficult.

Analysts cautioned that Iran still retains the ability to carry out unconventional maritime attacks using drones, mini-submarines, and vessels linked to its shadow tanker fleet. Analysts from MAIAR said Tehran could also deploy smaller fast-attack craft armed with anti-ship missiles if its larger warships continue to be targeted. Iran could also disrupt commercial shipping by mining key routes in the Strait of Hormuz or launching drone attacks on tankers and port infrastructure.

Satellite imagery also indicates strikes at facilities near Natanz, a key location in Iran’s nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency said the buildings struck provided access to the underground enrichment facility and that no radiological consequences were expected from the damage. The overall scale of damage to Iran’s military infrastructure remains unclear as strikes continue and Israeli attacks have also targeted security headquarters in Tehran.

Apart from the navy and its drone stockpile, Iran’s primary weapon of mass chaos is its missile cache. Iran was estimated to have had about 2,000 missiles before the June conflict with Israel and the U.S., during which it fired at least500 missilesat Israel. After the conflict, shipments of precursors from China increased dramatically, suggesting that Tehran was scrambling to rebuild its stockpile.

In recent months, the IDF says Iran invested significant effort to restore missile production capabilities, manufacturing dozens of projectiles per month. According toThe Times of Israel, as of the February 11, 2026 rally marking the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, the IDF assessed that Iran possessed approximately2,500 ballistic missiles.

Source: The Gateway Pundit