Iran ‘Digs Out’ Missiles As Ceasefire Masks Rapid Rearmament

Iran ‘Digs Out’ Missiles As Ceasefire Masks Rapid Rearmament

Ceasefire used to rebuild

Iran is quietly using the fragile ceasefire to recover and reposition buried weapons, according to U.S. officials, raising fears the pause in fighting is being exploited to prepare for a fresh round of conflict.

Sources say the regime has accelerated efforts to dig out missiles, drones, and munitions hidden underground or trapped beneath rubble after weeks of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. The aim appears clear: rebuild enough capability to strike back quickly if the war resumes.

Trump weighs next move

Donald Trump is now reviewing options with his national security team, including potential new military action and strategies to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

A briefing from U.S. Central Command is expected to shape the next decision, with officials indicating a path forward could be chosen within days. Trump’s planned trip to China — and talks with Xi Jinping — is also factoring into the timing.

Conflicting pictures of Iran’s strength

Publicly, Washington insists Iran has been heavily degraded. Officials claim much of its missile production capacity has been destroyed, alongside key naval and drone assets.

But intelligence assessments tell a more complicated story. Reports suggest Iran still retains a significant portion of its missile arsenal, along with elements of its air force and naval forces. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently acknowledged Tehran may still have roughly half its missile stockpile intact.

Hidden arsenal emerges

Experts believe Iran preserved parts of its arsenal by dispersing equipment, using decoys, and burying launchers ahead of the conflict. Now, with bombing paused, those assets are being recovered at speed.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has openly accused Tehran of “digging out” its remaining capabilities — a claim now backed by intelligence pointing to intensified activity on the ground.

High-stakes standoff continues

The situation leaves both sides locked in a tense waiting game. The U.S. is betting economic pressure and military damage will force Iran to concede. Iran, meanwhile, appears determined to prove it can still fight.

With negotiations stalled and military options back on the table, the ceasefire looks less like a path to peace — and more like a countdown to the next phase of the war.

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