The US war against Iran has already cost $25 billion
A senior Pentagon official has stated that the US war against Iran has already cost $25 billion. This is the first official estimate of the cost of the conflict, according to Reuters.
Acting Comptroller Jules Hurst told a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee that most of the funds had been spent on ammunition. He did not specify which expenditure items were included in this figure or whether it included costs for repairing damaged infrastructure at bases in the Middle East.
Congressman Adam Smith, the leading Democrat on the committee, reacted to the figure, noting that lawmakers had long been demanding such data.
The figure announced is comparable to NASA’s annual budget.
At the same time, it remains unclear exactly how the Pentagon arrived at the $25 billion estimate. According to a Reuters source, as recently as last month, the Donald Trump administration estimated the costs for just the first six days of the war at at least $11.3 billion.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegset stated that such costs are justified by the goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “What are you willing to pay to ensure Iran does not get a nuclear bomb?” he said.
During the hearings, Hagseth also defended US actions in the war and criticised Democrats for their stance.
In response to a remark by Congressman John Garamendi, he said: “You call this quagmire, passing on propaganda to our enemies? Shame on you for making such a statement.”
The US launched strikes against Iran on 28 February. At present, the parties are observing a fragile ceasefire. The Pentagon has deployed tens of thousands of troops to the Middle East, including three aircraft carriers.
During the conflict, 13 American soldiers have been killed and hundreds wounded.
Against the backdrop of the war, prices are rising in the US, particularly for petrol and agricultural products, including fertilisers. According to the American Automobile Association, the average price of petrol on Tuesday reached its highest level in nearly four years.
Support among Americans for US actions in the war with Iran is declining. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, 34% of respondents approve of the conflict, down from 36% in mid-April and 38% in mid-March.
