Iran is accelerating efforts to dig out missiles and munitions

White HouseIran is accelerating efforts to dig out missiles and munitionsThe Iranian regime has used the weekslong ceasefire in the war to try to position its remaining military capabilities to launch attacks if Trump decides to resume strikes, sources say.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00A missile launched from Iran as seen from the central Gaza Strip on March 1.Eyad Baba / AFP - Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 30, 2026, 6:21 PM EDTBy Gordon Lubold, Courtney Kube, Dan De Luce and Monica AlbaWASHINGTON — Iran is taking advantage of the ceasefire with the U.S. to dig out its weapons, according to a U.S. official and two other people familiar with the matter. The regime has stepped up its efforts to excavate missiles and other munitions it hid underground or that were buried beneath rubble from U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, they said.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The U.S. believes the regime wants to quickly reconstitute its drone and missile capabilities so it could launch attacks across the Middle East if President Donald Trump decides to resume military operations, the sources said. Trump is set to meet with his national security team Thursday to review options — including new military action — for opening the Strait of Hormuz and stripping Iran of any nuclear material, according to another U.S. official. The commander of U.S. Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper, was scheduled to brief Trump and members of his national security team about the options, as well as the status of a U.S. blockade, the official said. Trump is expected to decide on the path in the coming days, according to the first U.S. official. A White House official said Trump’s planned mid-May trip to China, which has ties with Iran, is among the factors contributing to his decision-making process as he weighs options in Iran. His visit to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which was alr...