{"id":35497,"date":"2026-04-30T06:11:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T03:11:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=35497"},"modified":"2026-04-30T06:12:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T03:12:48","slug":"iran-war-has-cost-the-us-25-billion-pentagon-says-as-conflict-nears-60-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/iran-war-has-cost-the-us-25-billion-pentagon-says-as-conflict-nears-60-days\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran war has cost the US $25 billion, Pentagon says, as conflict nears 60 days"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

6 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States has spent approximately $25 billion on its ongoing military campaign against Iran, marking the first official cost estimate released by the Pentagon since the conflict began nearly two months ago.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The figure was disclosed by Jules Hurst, the acting Pentagon comptroller, during a House Armed Services Committee hearing. He testified alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cApproximately to this day, we\u2019re spending about $25 billion on Operation Epic Fury,\u201d Hurst told lawmakers. \u201cMost of that [is] in munitions. There is part of that, it\u2019s obviously [operations and maintenance] and equipment replacement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Costs Rising Rapidly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The $25 billion estimate reflects the cost of sustained U.S. air and naval operations, as well as the replenishment of high-end military systems used during the campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier in the conflict, Pentagon officials indicated that the first week alone cost roughly $11 billion, highlighting the intensity and expense of early operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The war began on February 28, with the U.S. deploying significant military assets to the region, including three aircraft carriers and tens of thousands of additional troops.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"An<\/a>
An F-35C Lightning II is staged for flight operations on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln in support of Operation Epic Fury in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, on March 3, 2026. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Despite a fragile ceasefire, operations and associated costs have continued to accumulate. The Pentagon has not yet provided a detailed breakdown of how the $25 billion figure was calculated or whether it includes long-term repair and reconstruction costs for damaged military infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The financial burden is expected to grow further. Administration officials are discussing a supplemental funding request that could reach up to $200 billion to cover continued operations and replenish depleted weapons stockpiles, though no final figure has been confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hurst told lawmakers that the administration would submit a formal request \u201conce we have a full assessment of the cost of the conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Congress Presses for Transparency<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawmakers have repeatedly pressed the Pentagon for clarity on the financial scope of the war. Adam Smith, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, noted that this was the first time a concrete figure had been provided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad you answered that question, because we\u2019ve been asking for a hell of a long time, and no one\u2019s given us the number,\u201d Smith said during the hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conflict is approaching the 60-day threshold set by the War Powers Resolution of 1973, after which Congress may be required to formally approve or reject continued military action. So far, legislative efforts to halt the war have failed narrowly in both chambers.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Iran's<\/a>
Iran’s IRGC displays a ballistic missile at a demonstration in downtown Tehran on April 21, 2026. (Image Credit: Alireza Masoumi\/ISNA)<\/sup><\/em>

<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n


Strategic Impact Questioned<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond cost concerns, lawmakers are increasingly questioning whether the campaign has achieved its stated objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith argued that Iran\u2019s core military capabilities remain largely intact. \u201cAs we sit here today, Iran\u2019s nuclear program is exactly what it was before this war started,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey have not lost their capacity to inflict pain. They still have a ballistic missile program. They\u2019re still able to blockade the Strait of Hormuz,\u201d Adam Smith added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has had global economic consequences, disrupting oil shipments and contributing to rising fuel prices worldwide. U.S. gasoline prices have climbed to their highest levels in nearly four years, reflecting broader supply chain disruptions linked to the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, U.S. officials have acknowledged that Iranian strikes have caused more extensive damage to American bases and equipment in the region than previously disclosed, potentially adding billions in future repair costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Administration Defends the Campaign<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senior defense officials have pushed back strongly against criticism, arguing that the war is necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat would you pay to ensure Iran does not get a nuclear bomb? What would you pay?\u201d U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said during the hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"U.S.<\/a>
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation alongside U.S. Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on June 21, 2025, following U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. (Image Credit: Reuters\/Carlos Barria)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Hegseth also criticized opponents of the war, stating: \u201cThe biggest challenge, the biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless, feckless, and defeatist words of congressional Democrats,\u201d and \u201csome Republicans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The administration has maintained that the campaign is not a prolonged quagmire, despite its growing financial and political costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Independent Estimates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Independent assessments suggest that the true cost of the war may already meet or exceed the Pentagon\u2019s official figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Center for American Progress previously estimated that the conflict had reached approximately $25 billion based on early data and external analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, the American Enterprise Institute assessed that costs could fall between $25 billion and $35 billion as early as April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These estimates raise questions about whether the Pentagon\u2019s figure fully captures the total financial impact, particularly given the lack of clarity on infrastructure damage, long-term maintenance, and future replenishment needs.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"U.S.<\/a>
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth meets with service members executing Operation Epic Fury while in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, on March 28, 2026. (Image Credit: U.S. Air Force\/Tech. Sgt. Milton Hamilton)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Hurst acknowledged that additional funding would be required, reiterating that a supplemental request would be submitted once a full accounting is completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawmakers remain concerned about the transparency and trajectory of spending, especially as the administration considers requesting tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Political and Economic Pressure Builds<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rising cost of the war is becoming a central political issue in Washington, particularly as it coincides with increasing economic pressure on U.S. consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disruptions in global energy markets have driven up fuel and commodity prices, contributing to inflation concerns. Public support for the conflict remains limited, with recent polling indicating declining approval for the war effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With midterm elections approaching, the financial and strategic implications of the Iran campaign are expected to remain a key point of debate, both in Congress and among voters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Pentagon prepares its formal funding request and the conflict moves beyond its initial authorization window, the focus is likely to intensify on both the cost and the long-term objectives of the war.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"What<\/a>
What could $25 billion do for the U.S. if not spent on the Iran war? (Image Credit: IRIA)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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