Iran War Costs Push US Defence Bill Past $47 Billion

Washington (GNP): The cost of the US war against Iran has risen above $47 billion, according to the latest Pentagon estimate. The figure is more than 25 per cent higher than the Defence Department’s assessment in July.

Pentagon data puts US military spending and replacement requirements at $47.1 billion, as the prolonged conflict continues to consume weapons, equipment and operational resources. The department has not released the figures publicly and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Munitions are the largest part of the bill. More than $29 billion comes from replacing weapons expended during the conflict, including precision-guided missiles, air defence interceptors and bombs.

A further $6 billion or more is needed to replace lost or damaged equipment such as aircraft and drones. The use of costly interceptors against Iranian missiles and drones has also added pressure on weapons stocks.

Replacing these systems is not a simple accounting matter. Procurement can take time, particularly for sophisticated weapons with complex manufacturing requirements, and heavy spending in one theatre can complicate readiness for other contingencies.

The estimate may still understate the final cost. It does not clearly account for repairing US bases and facilities damaged by Iranian missile and drone attacks. Work on runways, buildings and communications facilities could add billions, although no comprehensive total has been made public.

The new figure marks a sharp rise from the $37.5 billion estimate given by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in July. The conflict began on February 28, and Pentagon figures reviewed in September had already put the cost at tens of billions of dollars.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reached a similar picture in an assessment released in September. It estimated that the war had cost the US nearly $38 billion in its first five months and projected a further $2 billion to $3 billion a month, with costs rising faster during intense combat.

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The financial strain extends beyond the military budget. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, a Finland-based research group, estimated that the world paid an additional $468 billion for fuel between the start of March and mid-October, compared with pre-war prices.

The study linked the increase to supply disruptions caused by the conflict, including the effective closure and later blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Higher oil and shipping costs have raised fuel prices, putting pressure on businesses and households.

That pressure now carries political weight ahead of the US congressional elections on November 3. Rising fuel prices and the cost of the war have become concerns for the administration of President Donald Trump and for Republican candidates, whose party holds narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress.