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

The Pentagon has revealed that the United States has spent over $47 billion on the war in Iran, significantly surpassing the previous estimate of $37.5 billion provided by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in July. The increased cost has not been officially communicated to the public before this disclosure. As Republicans grapple with the political ramifications of the unpopular conflict in the lead-up to the November 3 election, the Iran war's impact on global energy costs has negatively affected support for Republican candidates and President Donald Trump's approval ratings.

The war's operational costs, which have not been publicly shared until now, are estimated to total more than $29 billion for replacing expended munitions. Additionally, more than $6 billion would be required to replace military equipment and "platform losses," including lost aircraft and drones. The war began in February when Trump launched the conflict alongside Israel, initially intending to employ costly precision missiles to target Iran's defenses, followed by cheaper munitions such as gravity bombs.

However, the April ceasefire allowed Iran to restore some of its defenses, including previously inaccessible missiles and drones. As a result, Trump has imposed a naval blockade on Iran to cut off its oil export revenue and has expressed the possibility of resuming combat operations after the midterm elections. US officials, who spoke anonymously, indicated that the Pentagon has been preparing to resume heavy fighting if ordered to do so.