Iran war spending tops $47 billion
Pentagon figures reveal operational costs have surged 25% above July projections, straining Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterms.
By Allison Singh ·
The United States military has expended over $47 billion to fight the war in Iran. This total exceeds the Defense Department's July estimate by more than 25%. The data was obtained by Reuters from Pentagon sources.
The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The internal estimate had not been shared publicly before this disclosure. The rising costs land as Republicans face political pressure. The conflict remains unpopular with voters. The November 3 election will determine control of Congress for the next two years.
The war's effect on global energy prices has hurt support for Republican candidates. President Donald Trump's approval ratings have also taken a hit. The Republican Party holds a narrow majority in both chambers of Congress.
The latest figure covers operational costs of the war. It does not include the projected $29 billion needed to replace expended munitions. An additional $6 billion is required to replace military equipment and platform losses. These losses include aircraft and many drones destroyed during the conflict.
Trump launched the war jointly with Israel in February. He predicted a short conflict. The initial strategy used expensive precision missiles to bomb Iranian defenses. This was intended to allow the use of cheaper munitions, such as air-launched JDAMs, later in the war.
An April ceasefire allowed Iran to dig out underground storage facilities. This restored access to some defenses, missiles, and drones. Trump has since imposed a naval blockade to cut off Iran's oil export revenue. He has suggested combat operations could restart after the midterms.
US officials speaking on condition of anonymity said the Pentagon is planning for heavy fighting to resume if ordered. The current $47 billion figure compares to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's July estimate of $37.5 billion. The numbers include costs for flight operations and cyber support. They do not clearly account for the expense of repairing damage to US bases from Iranian missile and drone attacks.
Source: The Star
