Iran FM Claims US-Iran War Costs Hit $100B, Disputes Pentagon Estimate
Iran disputes Pentagon estimate, claiming US-Iran war costs have already reached $100 billion.
A sharp diplomatic and political dispute has emerged over the financial cost of the ongoing US–Iran conflict, with Iran’s Foreign Minister accusing Washington of significantly downplaying the war’s economic impact while US defence officials defend their official estimates. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi claimed that the United States is underreporting the true cost of the conflict, which he said was launched on February 28 under the Trump administration in coordination with Israeli leadership. Writing on social media platform X, he alleged that the war has already cost the US around $100 billion, nearly four times the figure being cited by American officials. He also argued that indirect economic costs are far higher, claiming that the financial burden translates into hundreds of dollars per American household each month.
His comments directly contradict estimates provided by the US Department of Defense. A senior Pentagon official, Jules Hurst, told lawmakers that the conflict has cost approximately $25 billion so far, with most of the expenditure linked to munitions and operational deployment. However, he did not clarify whether long-term costs such as infrastructure repair or extended military commitments in the Middle East were included in the calculation.
The disparity in figures has triggered political scrutiny in Washington, particularly among lawmakers demanding greater transparency over wartime spending. Some members of Congress have questioned how the Pentagon arrived at its estimate and whether it fully reflects the financial strain of prolonged military engagement. The debate has intensified as the US approaches a politically sensitive period ahead of upcoming elections.
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Defence officials, however, have defended the spending, arguing that the cost must be weighed against strategic objectives. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the war effort, stating that preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons justifies the financial outlay. He dismissed criticism of the spending as politically motivated and emphasised national security priorities over budget concerns.
Reports have also suggested that early phases of the conflict have already incurred billions of dollars in military expenses, largely due to high-intensity operations and weapons deployment. Analysts note that uncertainty over the full scale of costs is likely to persist as the conflict continues, adding further pressure on both the US administration and Congress amid growing public debate over war expenditures and foreign policy priorities.
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