US expands military stockpile amid conflict as Iran dismisses ceasefire offer

The United States (US) has taken steps to strengthen its military capability amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, announcing new agreements with leading defence contractors to increase missile production.

The US Department of Defence revealed on Wednesday that the agreements are intended to replenish stockpiles that have been significantly depleted due to sustained operations in the region, especially as American forces and their allies continue to respond to Iranian retaliatory attacks.
According to the Pentagon, the heavy deployment of interceptor systems by the US, Israel, and their Gulf allies has put considerable strain on existing reserves.
To address this, major defence companies Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems have pledged to significantly boost the production of key components for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system.
The Department of Defence noted that the move effectively puts the country’s “industrial base on a wartime footing,” highlighting the urgency of the buildup. Lockheed Martin had earlier disclosed plans to increase THAAD production from about 100 units to roughly 400 units annually in the coming years.
In a separate development, the Pentagon also instructed Lockheed Martin to accelerate the production of Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), a newer category of tactical ballistic weapons recently deployed against Iran.
The company confirmed plans to quadruple its production capacity, building on a previously awarded $4.94 billion contract from the US Army.
Meanwhile, Honeywell Aerospace has been directed to ramp up production of essential components for America’s munitions stockpile, including advanced navigation systems, further reinforcing supply chains.
At the same time, diplomatic efforts appear to be losing momentum, as Iran has reportedly rejected a US-backed proposal aimed at ending the conflict.
Iranian state media, quoting an unnamed senior official, said Tehran dismissed the proposal and intends to determine its own conditions for any ceasefire. “Iran has responded negatively to an American proposal aimed at ending the ongoing imposed war,” the official stated.
The source added, “The end of the war will occur when Iran decides it should end, not when Trump envisions its conclusion.”
Although there has been no official statement from Tehran, reports indicate that Iranian authorities have outlined their own terms for peace. These include a halt to what they describe as “aggression and assassinations,” assurances against future attacks by the US or Israel, and compensation for damages caused by the conflict.
Other reported demands include a cessation of hostilities across regional fronts, including operations involving allied groups, as well as international recognition of Iran’s sovereignty over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.