Countdown to another Iran-Israel war? Tehran readies to 'fire 2,000 missiles in one go'

The report warns that despite the devastating 12-day war in June, Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes remain largely intact, and both sides are now bracing for another possible confrontation.

Middle East officials said that the damage inflicted by Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities was far less severe than initially believed.

As a result, Tehran has accelerated efforts to rebuild and expand its arsenal, producing thousands of missiles and enhancing its capacity to launch a massive offensive if hostilities resume.

Iran’s uranium stockpile and nuclear ambitions

The report revealed that Iran continues to hold a significant stockpile of highly enriched uranium, potentially enough to produce up to 11 nuclear weapons.

The fate of this stockpile remains unclear — Iran claims it was buried beneath rubble following Israeli airstrikes, while Israeli officials believe it was secretly relocated to secure underground sites.

Compounding the danger is the recent expiration of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which had previously limited Iran’s uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief.

With that agreement now defunct and international inspections restricted, analysts say the risk of escalation is higher than ever.

The missile buildup: From 500 to 2,000 in one go

As diplomatic channels falter, Iran appears to be intensifying its military preparations.

According to The New York Times, Tehran’s missile factories are operating “around the clock,” with engineers working to enable simultaneous launches of up to 2,000 missiles — quadruple the number fired during the June conflict.

“Iran is doubling down on its preparedness for the next round,” said Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at the International Crisis Group. “Israel feels the job is unfinished and sees no reason not to resume the conflict.”

Vaez emphasised that, while there is no immediate sign of imminent warfare, both nations are clearly positioning themselves for future confrontation.

Diplomatic deadlock and rising hostility

The NYT report highlighted that the impasse between Washington and Tehran has deepened in recent months.

Several rounds of negotiations collapsed after the United States joined Israel’s coordinated air campaign in June.

Meanwhile, Iran’s refusal to grant international inspectors access to a new uranium enrichment site has fueled further mistrust.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared to dismiss prospects for renewed diplomacy, saying last week that cooperation with the U.S. is impossible so long as it continues to support Israel and maintain a military presence in the Middle East.

“The arrogant nature of the United States accepts nothing other than submission,” Khamenei said in remarks carried by state media, underscoring Tehran’s hardening stance.

Divisions within Iran’s leadership

Despite the aggressive posturing, Iran’s top decision-makers remain divided on strategy, Vaez said.

Some within the government favour pursuing a new nuclear agreement to ease sanctions and stabilise the economy, which has been battered by runaway inflation and severe water shortages affecting its 92 million citizens.

Others, however, view renewed diplomacy as futile — particularly under Donald Trump, who withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord during his first term.

This faction reportedly believes that confrontation with Israel and the West is inevitable and may even strengthen domestic unity.

Regardless of these internal differences, Vaez said one point of consensus remains: a fresh round of conflict with Israel is seen as unavoidable.

The June war: A costly precursor

In June, Israel launched a large-scale military campaign against Iran, targeting top military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment sites, and missile facilities.

Israel claimed the offensive was necessary to halt Tehran’s push toward weaponising its nuclear program — something Iran continues to deny.

In response, Iran fired over 500 ballistic missiles and 1,100 drones toward Israeli territory, marking one of the most intense barrages in the region’s history.

Israeli health authorities reported 32 fatalities and more than 3,000 injuries, with extensive damage to homes, universities, and hospitals. Over 13,000 Israelis were displaced due to the attacks.

Iran also suffered heavy losses, with more than 1,000 casualties reported following Israeli retaliatory strikes.

Growing fears of a wider Middle East conflict

Regional experts warn that another Israel-Iran war could destabilise the entire Middle East, drawing in proxy forces and potentially threatening global energy supplies.

With both countries preparing for the next phase, observers say even a small miscalculation could trigger a full-scale confrontation.

“Iran is working day and night to ensure that, if attacked again, it can overwhelm Israeli defences,” Vaez noted. “At the same time, Israel feels compelled to finish what it started.”

The situation remains tense, with diplomatic backchannels largely frozen and military rhetoric escalating on both sides.

While no immediate outbreak of violence is expected, most regional analysts now agree on one unsettling reality: the next Iran-Israel war may not be a question of if, but when.