WASHINGTON – The estimated cost of the Iran war for U.S. taxpayers has reached $47.1 billion, according to a new Pentagon assessment provided to Congress. The financial burden of the conflict has emerged as a major issue in the midterm elections, with President Donald Trump continuing to leave open the possibility of renewed fighting.
The estimate from U.S. Central Command, which directs American military operations in the Middle East, is current through Oct. 16. It represents the latest accounting of the war’s cost since the United States and Israel launched the conflict in late February. The figure, obtained by The Associated Press this week, reflects a $3.5 billion increase from early September, when estimated U.S. spending stood at roughly $43.6 billion.
The war’s rising price tag, combined with its impact on energy costs, could create political problems for Republicans in next week’s midterm elections. Voters on Tuesday will determine which party controls Congress for the final two years of Trump’s presidency.
Trump has said additional strikes against Iran could come after the midterms and is moving more military assets into the Middle East. That escalation comes despite his initial promise that the campaign would last only a matter of weeks. As the conflict’s toll in lives, taxpayer money and economic disruption continues to mount, a majority of voters say Congress should focus on bringing the war to an end, according to a recent AP-NORC poll.
The cost of the war, along with broader military spending, has intensified debate on Capitol Hill. The Trump administration is seeking approval of a historic $1.5 trillion defense budget, while the White House is also asking Congress to authorize a $95 billion package to support the Iran war and other priorities.
Wednesday marks eight months since the war began. Democrats have repeatedly sought to end the conflict through legislation, but those efforts have failed in the Republican-controlled Congress.
“Trump and his ego led us into this war with no plan, no authority, and no exit strategy,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said in a news release. “Senate Democrats will continue to do everything in our power to end this disaster of a war and stop the costs, chaos, and corruption seeping from the White House.”
Replacing spent munitions accounts for the largest share of the Pentagon’s latest estimate, totaling about $29 billion. The weapons most heavily used, and therefore most depleted, include advanced defensive missile interceptors fired by the Army’s Patriot and THAAD systems. A single Patriot interceptor can cost millions of dollars.
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The Pentagon estimates that about $11.9 billion covers military operations, while another $6 billion is linked to equipment losses. The Air Force’s expenses have reached $7.6 billion, and the Army’s exceed $2 billion. Navy costs were reported at $1.45 billion, down sharply from the $2.2 billion estimate released in early September.
Asked why the Navy’s estimate fell over the roughly six-week period, both the Navy and U.S. Central Command directed questions to the Pentagon. The department did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the revised figures.
The new total does not account for damage to U.S. military bases across the Middle East that have come under attack from Iranian ballistic missiles and drones. A Pentagon inspector general’s report issued last month said Iranian strikes damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings and other structures at American bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan.
The Pentagon’s official count lists 21 service members killed and 865 wounded during the conflict. That total includes troops who died from medical events and other circumstances not directly tied to combat. Eighteen service members were killed by Iranian strikes, combat aircraft crashes or accidents involving the disposal of Iranian drones.
Trump has repeatedly weighed the possibility of reaching an agreement with Iran against the option of “finish them off.” Meanwhile, a third aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops are heading to the region. The administration has also reduced personnel at some U.S. embassies after intelligence indicated that Iran had increased efforts to target American officials and other personnel.
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