A senior Pentagon official revealed on Wednesday (April 29th) that the United States has spent about $25 billion on its military campaign in Iran, the first official estimate of the cost of the conflict.
Jules Hurst, who is currently acting comptroller, told lawmakers that “most of that money was for munitions,” though he did not specify whether the figure included long-term costs such as rebuilding damaged infrastructure in the Middle East.
The revelations came during testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, where frustration was mounting over a lack of transparency.
Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the committee, bluntly replied: “I’m glad you answered that question. Because we’ve been asking for a hell of a long time and no one has given us a number.”
Conflict and the human toll
The US launched strikes against Iran on February 28, and a fragile ceasefire is currently in place. The Pentagon has significantly expanded its regional presence, deploying tens of thousands more troops, including three aircraft carriers.
So far, 13 US troops have been killed and hundreds injured, underscoring the human cost along with the financial burden.
The economic impact is falling on American consumers
In addition to military spending, the war disrupted global energy markets. Oil and natural gas supply disruptions have pushed up gasoline prices in the United States, impacting agricultural commodities such as fertilizers. These increases add to broader inflationary pressures already affecting consumers.
Republican Ro Khanna argued that the economic burden far exceeded the Pentagon’s estimates, claiming, “The war will increase costs to American households by $5,000.” He dismissed the $25 billion figure as “completely out of line” and added: “It’s incompetence.
Sharp exchanges
The financial and strategic justification for the war sparked heated exchanges between lawmakers and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. When pressed about future costs, Hegseth rephrased the issue: “The question I would ask this committee is, what is the cost to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon?
Khanna stepped down and asked if the administration would recognize the economic toll on Americans. Hegseth declined to provide details, saying only that “we have an incredible economic team” managing the situation.
The stock market rallied when Hegseth attributed high gasoline prices in California to “terrible politics.” Khanna responded sharply: “You said (you) wouldn’t get into bad wars. You said you would lower prices… You know what? I feel sad for all the people who voted for Trump.”
Declining public support
Public support for the conflict appears to be waning. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 34% of Americans approve of the war, down from 36% in mid-April and 38% in mid-March. Rising costs—both economic and human—have contributed to declining approval ratings for the administration.
