WASHINGTON – The United States has spent more than $47 billion on its military campaign against Iran, while replacing ammunition and damaged or destroyed military equipment is expected to add tens of billions of dollars to the overall bill, according to Pentagon estimates.
The latest assessment puts the cost of the conflict more than 25% above the figure disclosed by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in July, when he estimated military spending on the war at $37.5 billion. The Pentagon has not publicly released its updated calculation.
The escalating expenditure 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 both chambers of Congress.
Rising global energy prices linked to the war have weakened support for Republican candidates and contributed to a decline in Trump’s approval ratings. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
According to the Pentagon’s latest assessment, replenishing ammunition used during the campaign could cost more than $29 billion. A further $6 billion or more may be required to replace military hardware and platforms lost during the fighting, including aircraft and large numbers of unmanned aerial vehicles.
The overall estimate covers a range of military activities, including air operations and cyber support. However, it remains unclear whether the calculation fully accounts for the substantial costs of repairing US military installations damaged by Iranian missile and drone strikes.
Military costs rise as conflict continues
Trump launched the military campaign alongside Israel in February, initially predicting that the conflict would be relatively short.
The US strategy initially relied on sophisticated, expensive precision weapons to weaken Iran’s air defences and military infrastructure. The approach was intended to allow American forces to subsequently use less costly ammunition, including Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs, which convert conventional bombs into precision-guided weapons.
However, an April ceasefire provided Iran with an opportunity to recover equipment and weapons from underground storage facilities. The move enabled some Iranian air defences, missiles and drones that had previously been inaccessible to return to service.
The conflict has also prompted Washington to pursue economic pressure against Tehran. Trump subsequently imposed a naval blockade targeting Iran and its oil export revenues.
The US president has left open the possibility of resuming combat operations after the midterm elections. American officials have indicated that military planners are preparing for the possibility of renewed intensive fighting if the administration issues the order.
The prospect of further hostilities raises questions about how much additional funding the Pentagon may require, particularly if the United States must replenish its weapons stockpiles while repairing infrastructure damaged during Iranian retaliatory attacks.
The growing financial burden could intensify scrutiny of the administration’s military strategy as voters prepare to decide the balance of power in Congress.
