Washington, March 25 (NationPress) US legislators have raised alarms about the increasing strain on American ammunition inventories and the swiftly deteriorating global nuclear situation during a Senate hearing that unveiled significant worries regarding the Trump administration's military conflict with Iran and the trajectory of arms control.

At a session of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the Ranking Member, highlighted that the rate of munitions usage has revealed critical deficiencies in both planning and strategic foresight.

“Last Thursday, nearly three weeks into the conflict with Iran, the Administration authorized over 16 billion dollars in arms sales to the Middle East... employing emergency powers to bypass the usual Congressional scrutiny,” she stated.

Shaheen characterized the current scenario as a “munitions and weapons” crisis, warning that US reserves are being swiftly exhausted. “In certain instances, we possess only around a quarter of the interceptors required,” she elaborated, expressing uncertainty regarding the ultimate objective of the war in Iran.

This pressure is already impacting other conflicts. “US support has become increasingly unreliable, prompting allies to seek out or stockpile American-made weaponry,” she noted, specifically mentioning Ukraine.

Shaheen remarked that “over 80 percent of their operations are now conducted via drones,” emphasizing a shift towards “autonomous systems and drone swarms.” However, she cautioned that “the support we have in the US is not keeping pace.”

Recent analyses have also raised alarms about the rapid depletion of US stockpiles of advanced missile defense technologies, questioning America's capacity to manage multiple simultaneous conflicts.

Committee Chairman Senator Jim Risch defended the administration’s strategy, situating the Iran conflict within a wider strategic context.

“Military actions in the Middle East have underscored what the United States must undertake to safeguard its citizens from imminent threats posed by adversaries,” he asserted.

Risch warned that the globe has transitioned into a “multipolar nuclear environment,” where the US contends with “two nuclear near-peer competitors in Russia and China,” alongside “rogue nations with nuclear ambitions.”

He contended that outdated arms control frameworks are inadequate. “Nuclear agreements from previous eras no longer fulfill our nation's requirements,” he said, adding that “if our adversaries are expanding their nuclear stockpiles, we regrettably must respond in kind.”

Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno informed lawmakers that the administration is actively pursuing “verifiable and enforceable arms control agreements that bolster American national security.”

He defended the transition away from legacy agreements, labeling the New START treaty as “a remnant of a security environment that has become disconnected from contemporary realities,” particularly in its failure to address China’s nuclear escalation.

Lawmakers from both parties expressed apprehension regarding the disintegration of arms control frameworks. Shaheen cautioned that “discussions on future arms control initiatives have come to a standstill,” noting that China’s unwillingness to engage effectively hinders progress.

She also pointed out escalating threats from Russia, including the deployment of tactical nuclear arms nearer to NATO and the experimentation with new systems that are increasingly difficult to monitor.

Simultaneously, China is “constructing over 300 new missile silos” and expanding its arsenal “with minimal transparency,” she indicated.

This hearing occurs amidst rising global tensions following US military actions against Iran, significantly amplifying the demand for advanced munitions and missile defense systems.