Shahed-136 drones, costing just $35,000 each, are proving difficult to stop despite U.S. strikes targeting Iranian factories, according to a New York Times report. These simple, GPS-guided weapons are manufactured in small workshops rather than large factories, making them hard to locate and destroy. The U.S. has targeted a facility near Isfahan, but experts warn this only scratches the surface of Iran's drone production capacity. 70 to 90 drones are launched daily against Gulf states, overwhelming interceptors that cost millions per unit.

This persistent threat keeps the Strait of Hormuz vulnerable, as Iran can choose which ships pass while the U.S. scrambles to reinforce the region. The conflict has also created a new market for Ukraine's drone interception expertise, though Iran's four-decade development of drone technology, including sharing models with Russia, complicates efforts to curb the threat. The core challenge remains: Iran's ability to produce and deploy these weapons faster than they can be destroyed.