As the United States continues its military campaign against Iran, American forces are rapidly depleting stockpiles of advanced weapons systems, including Tomahawk missile, Patriot missile and Precision Strike Missile systems.

The growing demand for replacements has intensified concerns over access to tungsten, a strategic metal essential for manufacturing a wide range of military equipment and ammunition.

Tungsten plays a critical role in fighter aircraft, bunker-buster bombs, armor-piercing rounds and missile systems, making it a key component of modern defense production. However, the United States has not operated an active commercial tungsten mine since 2015, leaving the country heavily dependent on foreign supplies.

Much of the world’s tungsten production and refining is controlled by China, a reliance the Trump administration has increasingly sought to reduce amid rising geopolitical tensions.

As Washington looks for alternative sources, attention has turned to South Korea, where a U.S.-owned mining operation in the country’s eastern mountains holds millions of tons of tungsten ore.

The site is emerging as a potentially critical resource as the U.S. defense industry races to replenish weapons inventories strained by the prolonged conflict in the Middle East.