The Pentagon’s latest estimate puts the US military’s Iran war costs above $47 billion, including billions for replacing munitions and damaged or lost equipment.
WASHINGTON: The US military has spent more than $47 billion prosecuting the war in Iran, according to the latest Pentagon data obtained by Reuters, pushing the estimated cost more than 25% above the Defence Department’s July figure.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest estimate, which has not been made public.
The rising cost of the conflict comes as Republicans face political pressure ahead of the Nov. 3 election, which will determine control of Congress for the next two years. The war’s impact on global energy costs has weighed on support for Republican candidates and contributed to lower approval ratings for President Donald Trump. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress.
The latest Pentagon estimate includes operational expenses associated with the war, as well as substantial projected costs to replace military assets used or lost during the conflict.
More than $29 billion is projected to be needed to replace expended munitions. Another $6 billion-plus would be required to replace military equipment and cover so-called platform losses, including aircraft and numerous drones lost during the war.
The figures do not clearly account for the potentially substantial costs of repairing damage to US military bases caused by Iranian missile and drone attacks.
Strategy and rising military expenses
Trump launched the war jointly with Israel in February, initially predicting that the conflict would be short-lived.
The US military’s initial strategy focused on using expensive, high-end precision missiles to destroy Iranian defences, with the aim of subsequently relying on less costly weapons. These included gravity bombs such as air-launched Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs, which are available in large quantities.
However, an April ceasefire gave Iran time to dig out underground storage facilities and restore some air defences, missiles and drones that had been inaccessible, according to the report.
Trump has since imposed a naval blockade on Iran in an effort to deprive Tehran of oil export revenue. He has also left open the possibility of resuming combat operations after the midterm elections.
US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the Pentagon has been planning for a resumption of heavy fighting if ordered to do so.
July estimate put war costs at $37.5 billion
The latest figure represents a significant increase from the $37.5 billion estimate provided by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in July.
The Pentagon’s operational cost calculations cover a range of activities, including flight operations and cyber support. However, the latest estimate does not clearly establish the full financial burden of repairing damage to US bases hit by Iranian attacks.
The projected replacement costs for munitions, aircraft and other military equipment add substantially to the overall bill, while the potential resumption of heavy fighting could bring further expenses.
The figures cited by Reuters highlight the growing financial burden of the conflict as the United States approaches a pivotal congressional election.
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