According to Pentagon data, the US military has expended over $47 billion on the war in Iran to date, exceeding the Department of Defense’s July estimates by 25 percent.
Sea-news.az reports citing Reuters, that the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the unreleased projection.
The disclosure of escalating campaign costs comes as Republicans navigate the political fallout of the unpopular conflict ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress for the next two years.
The war’s strain on global energy prices has eroded support for Republican candidates and weighed heavily on President Donald Trump’s approval ratings. The Republican Party currently holds razor-thin majorities in both chambers of Congress.
The Pentagon’s latest estimate focuses on operational campaign costs and allocates over $29 billion to replenish munitions depleted during the conflict. Replacing lost hardware, including multiple aircraft and drones downed over the course of operations, will require an additional $6 billion.
Trump’s initial strategy relied heavily on expensive, high-end precision missiles to dismantle Iran’s air defenses, intending to transition subsequently to lower-cost ordnance, such as air-dropped JDAM gravity bombs.
However, the April ceasefire granted Tehran time to fortify underground facilities, allowing it to redeploy select air defense systems and safeguard its remaining missile and drone arsenals. Trump has since imposed a naval blockade to starve Iran of oil export revenues, raising the prospect of resuming full-scale offensive operations after the midterms. Speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, US officials indicated that the Pentagon is preparing plans to restart heavy combat operations if ordered.
The Pentagon’s revised assessment contrasts with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s July benchmark of $37.5 billion. While current figures encompass range costs from flight sorties to cyber support, the US military expenditure model has yet to fully capture the substantial outlays required to repair American bases damaged by Iranian missile and drone strikes.
