China controls a metal that’s key for the Iran war, sending the U.S. on a global hunt for more
The U.S. is facing a critical shortage of tungsten, a metal essential for advanced weaponry, as it continues its military operations in Iran. With China dominating tungsten production, the U.S. is seeking alternative sources, including a mine in South Korea. The situation highlights the challenges of re-establishing a domestic tungsten supply chain amidst rising global demand and geopolitical tensions.
- ▪Tungsten is crucial for advanced weapons and ammunition used by the U.S. in the Iran war.
- ▪China produces over 80% of the world's tungsten supply, making the U.S. heavily reliant on imports.
- ▪The U.S. has not had active commercial tungsten mines since 2015, prompting a search for alternative sources.
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AsiaChina controls a metal that’s key for the Iran war, sending the U.S. on a global hunt for moreReplenishing the advanced weapons the U.S. is using in Iran will require large amounts of tungsten, a powerful metal whose production and refining is dominated by Beijing.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleInside the South Korean mines that will provide U.S. with key metal for Iran War04:06Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 25, 2026, 3:53 AM EDTBy Janis Mackey Frayer, Stella Kim and Jennifer JettYEONGWOL COUNTY, South Korea — As the United States wages war on Iran, it is burning through stockpiles of advanced weapons and ammunition, including Tomahawk, Patriot and Precision Strike missiles.
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