Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has claimed that Iran’s armed forces have destroyed or damaged 81 US military aircraft during the ongoing conflict, citing figures attributed to the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
In a post on X on Thursday, Araghchi said the CRS had previously reported that 42 US military aircraft had been lost or damaged, but that a more recent compilation put the figure at 81.
“The real toll is far higher,” Araghchi claimed, without providing additional details about the alleged losses.
The figures cited by Araghchi refer to aircraft reported lost or damaged during US military operations against Iran. A recent CRS compilation reportedly draws on Pentagon records, US Central Command statements, military inspector general findings and media reports. The figures remain subject to revision because of classification issues, ongoing military operations and questions over attribution.
Drone fleet among reported losses
According to the reported compilation, unmanned aircraft account for a substantial portion of the losses.
The figures include 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones and three MQ-1 aircraft reportedly downed during operations, along with an MQ-4C Triton that was lost in a flight accident.
Manned combat aircraft were also reportedly affected. The compilation lists 12 F-15E Strike Eagle fighters, including aircraft destroyed by friendly fire, one reportedly lost over Iran and others damaged during an Iranian missile strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.
An F-35A Lightning II was reportedly damaged by Iranian ground fire, while two A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft were also listed among aircraft lost or heavily damaged.
Support aircraft and helicopters also affected
The reported losses extend beyond combat aircraft to support and transport fleets.
Seven KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft were reportedly affected, including one aircraft lost in a fatal crash in Iraq that killed six crew members and several others damaged while on the ground in Saudi Arabia.
The compilation also lists an E-3 Sentry early-warning aircraft that sustained a direct hit and two MC-130J special operations aircraft that were intentionally destroyed during a rescue mission.
Seven military helicopters, including AH-64 Apache and AH-6 Little Bird variants, were also reportedly lost or damaged.
In May, the Congressional Research Service admitted that Iran’s Armed Forces had taken out 42 U.S. military aircraft. Now: 81.
Real toll is far higher.
Proof? CENTCOM won’t let a sitting Senator inspect bases it claims are fine.
You can fool all the people some of the time… https://t.co/eB3fRrJFt4
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) October 8, 2026
Araghchi questions CENTCOM
Araghchi also questioned the US military’s handling of damage assessments, focusing on US Central Command.
The Iranian foreign minister said CENTCOM had refused to allow a sitting US senator to inspect military bases that it had described as being in good condition.
He used the issue to challenge the credibility of US assessments of the reported damage, arguing that allowing an independent inspection would provide evidence about the condition of the facilities.
The comments come as the financial costs of the conflict continue to mount. A US Lead Inspector General report released in September estimated campaign expenses at $33.4 billion through late June, including billions of dollars in equipment losses. The US Congressional Budget Office has also projected significant costs associated with replacing damaged or destroyed military hardware.
The aircraft figures cited by Araghchi could still change as further information becomes available, particularly because some incidents remain subject to classification and verification.
