WASHINGTON, April 29 - A senior Pentagon official told members of the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday that U.S. military operations in Iran have so far cost $25 billion, marking the first official estimate of the conflict's direct price tag.
Jules Hurst, who is performing the duties of the comptroller, told lawmakers that most of the $25 billion was spent on munitions. Hurst did not provide detailed breakdowns of the estimate, and did not say whether the figure incorporates projected expenses for repairing or rebuilding base infrastructure in the Middle East that has been damaged during the fighting.
Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, responded to the comptroller's disclosure by noting long-standing questions from lawmakers about the total cost. He said, "Im glad you answered that question. Because weve been asking for a hell of a long time, and no ones given us the number."
The United States began carrying out strikes against Iran on Feb. 28. The two sides are currently maintaining a fragile ceasefire, according to the account provided to lawmakers. In the wake of the strikes the Pentagon has moved tens of thousands of additional forces into the Middle East and has kept three aircraft carriers positioned in the region.
The conflict has resulted in U.S. military casualties: thirteen American service members have been killed and hundreds have been wounded. Beyond the human toll, disruptions to shipments of oil and natural gas since the start of the fighting have contributed to increases in U.S. gasoline prices and have pushed up costs for agricultural products such as fertilizers, compounding already elevated consumer prices.
Political ramifications were highlighted in testimony and by observers on Capitol Hill. With approximately six months remaining before mid-term elections in which Republicans led by former President Trump could face difficulty holding their House majority, Democrats have sought to connect the unpopular war with concerns about affordability among voters.
Public approval of the U.S. conflict with Iran has fallen, with just 34% of Americans approving of the action, down from 36% in mid-April and 38% in mid-March, according to a recent poll. Lawmakers and officials said questions remain about the composition of the $25 billion estimate and about the longer-term fiscal consequences of sustained operations in the region.
Key points
- The Pentagon reports $25 billion spent so far on the U.S. war in Iran, with most of that spending attributed to munitions.
- U.S. forces and equipment have been increased in the Middle East, including three aircraft carriers and tens of thousands of additional troops.
- Domestic economic effects include higher gasoline prices and rising costs for agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, adding to consumer price pressures.
Risks and uncertainties
- The $25 billion figure lacks a detailed breakdown and it is unclear whether it includes projected costs to repair or rebuild damaged base infrastructure - a fiscal uncertainty for defense budgeting and contracting sectors.
- Ongoing troop deployments and regional posture increase the potential for further casualties and equipment losses, posing operational and personnel risks for the defense sector.
- Disruptions to energy and agricultural supply chains have driven up fuel and fertilizer prices, creating market volatility and cost pressures for the energy and agricultural sectors and affecting consumer markets.