How Much Is the Iran War Costing Pentagon?
News Desk
Washington: The cost of the United States’ war against Iran has reportedly exceeded $47 billion, more than 25 percent above the estimate released by the Pentagon in July, highlighting the growing financial burden of the conflict.
According to information from the US Department of Defense obtained by Reuters, Washington is expected to spend billions of additional dollars replenishing ammunition used during the fighting and replacing damaged or destroyed military equipment. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the latest estimates.
The escalating military expenditure comes as the Republican Party faces mounting political pressure ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Rising global energy prices linked to the conflict have reportedly weakened support for Republican candidates, while President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have also declined. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress.
The latest projections include the costs of combat operations, while an additional $29 billion or more is expected to be needed to replenish ammunition expended during the war. A further $6 billion or more could be required to replace military equipment and combat platforms destroyed during the fighting, including a significant number of aircraft and drones.
The figures represent a substantial increase from the $37.5 billion in war-related costs cited by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in July. The overall expenditure covers a broad range of military activities, including aerial operations and cyber support.
President Trump launched the military campaign against Iran in February in coordination with Israel, initially suggesting that the conflict would be brief. During the opening phase, US forces relied heavily on expensive, advanced precision-guided missiles to weaken Iran’s air defence systems and other military capabilities.
The strategy subsequently sought to make greater use of comparatively less expensive weapons, including Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bombs deployed from aircraft, after the initial attacks had targeted Iranian defensive infrastructure.
However, an April ceasefire reportedly allowed Iran to recover equipment from underground storage facilities and reactivate some of its air defence systems, missiles and drones, complicating efforts to sustain military pressure.
Trump later imposed a naval blockade on Iran in an effort to restrict revenue from its oil exports. He has also indicated that military operations could resume after the November midterm elections.
According to US officials cited in the report, the Pentagon is preparing for the possibility of renewed intensive combat if the president orders further military action.
Despite the latest estimates, the full financial impact of the conflict could be considerably higher. The reported figures do not explicitly include the substantial additional expenses that may be required to repair damage to US military bases caused by Iranian missile and drone attacks.
The rising costs are likely to intensify scrutiny of the administration’s military strategy, particularly as the United States faces pressure over energy prices, defence spending and the potential consequences of a prolonged confrontation with Iran.
