US costs of Iran war rise to over $47 billion, according to Pentagon estimate

The Pentagon has estimated that the United States has spent more than $47 billion on the war in Iran, significantly exceeding the initial Defense Department projection of $37.5 billion made in July. The latest figure, obtained by Reuters, reveals that the actual costs have surpassed expectations, with the discrepancy attributed to factors such as the replacement of expended munitions, military equipment, and platform losses.

Republican lawmakers are grappling with the political fallout of the unpopular conflict as the November 3 election approaches, which could determine control of Congress for the next two years. The toll of the war on global energy costs has negatively impacted Republican candidates and President Donald Trump's approval ratings. Initially, Trump launched the Iran war in February jointly with Israel, expecting a short conflict.

His strategy involved the use of expensive precision missiles before deploying less costly munitions like gravity bombs.

However, a ceasefire in April allowed Iran to rebuild its defenses, including underground storage facilities, as well as missile and drone capabilities. In response, Trump imposed a naval blockade on Iran and hinted at the possibility of restarting combat operations after the midterm elections. While the Pentagon has not directly commented on the updated estimate, US officials believe the Defense Department may be planning to resume heavy fighting if directed to do so.

The Pentagon's estimate does not fully account for the extensive damage to US bases caused by Iranian missile and drone attacks, which is likely to result in substantial repair costs.