The cost of the United States’ war against Iran has exceeded $47 billion, according to the Pentagon’s latest estimate obtained by Reuters, highlighting the growing financial burden of the conflict.
The figure is more than 25% higher than the $37.5 billion estimate provided by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in July. The Pentagon has not publicly released the latest assessment and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The rising cost comes as President Donald Trump’s administration faces growing political pressure over the conflict ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress for the next two years.
Billions Needed to Replace Weapons and Military Equipment
The Pentagon’s latest estimate includes operational expenses associated with the war, such as flight operations and cyber support.
More than $29 billion is projected to be required to replace munitions used during the conflict, according to the estimate.
An additional $6 billion or more would be needed to replace military equipment and cover what the assessment describes as “platform losses”. These losses include aircraft, including numerous drones destroyed or lost during the war.
The figures highlight the financial consequences of sustained military operations, particularly when advanced weapons and aircraft must be replaced.
However, the estimate does not clearly account for the substantial costs expected to repair damage to US military bases hit by Iranian missile and drone attacks.
The eventual financial burden could therefore be higher than the amount currently estimated.
Political Pressure Mounts Ahead of US Midterm Elections
The rising cost of the war has become a political concern for Republicans as they prepare for the November 3 elections.
Trump’s Republican Party holds narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, making the elections particularly important for the administration’s ability to advance its legislative agenda.
The conflict’s impact on global energy prices has also weighed on support for Republican candidates and contributed to pressure on Trump’s approval ratings.
Higher energy costs can affect households and businesses, making the economic consequences of the war an important issue for voters.
The latest Pentagon estimate adds another dimension to the debate over the financial and strategic costs of the conflict.
US-Iran War Costs Reach $37.5 Billion, Pentagon Tells Congress
How the War’s Military Strategy Has Evolved
Trump launched the war jointly with Israel in February, initially predicting that the conflict would be short.
The administration’s early military strategy focused on using expensive, high-end precision missiles to weaken Iran’s air defences. The aim was to allow US forces to rely more heavily on less expensive weapons later, including Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), which convert conventional bombs into precision-guided weapons.
However, an April ceasefire gave Iran time to recover underground storage facilities and restore access to some air defences, missiles and drones that had previously been inaccessible, according to the report.
These developments complicated the military situation and added uncertainty to the cost and duration of the conflict.
US Considers Further Military Operations
Trump has since imposed a naval blockade on Iran aimed at restricting the country’s oil export revenues. He has also left open the possibility of resuming combat operations after the midterm elections.
US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the Pentagon had been planning for the possibility of renewed heavy fighting if ordered to proceed.
Such a development could increase military spending further, particularly if operations require additional munitions, aircraft and logistical support.
The Pentagon’s latest estimate, however, does not provide a complete accounting of all potential future costs.
Damage to US Bases Could Add to the Bill
One significant uncertainty concerns the cost of repairing US military installations damaged by Iranian missile and drone attacks.
The available estimates cover a range of operational expenses and replacement costs, but do not clearly account for the full expense of repairing the damaged bases.
Those repairs could add substantially to the overall financial burden, depending on the extent of the damage and the resources required to restore facilities.
With the reported cost already exceeding $47 billion, the conflict is placing growing demands on the US military budget. The final bill will depend on the duration of the war, the scale of any renewed fighting and the cost of replacing equipment and repairing damaged infrastructure.
