WASHINGTON: The United States’ war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far, a senior Pentagon official said on Wednesday, providing the first official estimate of the military’s price tag for the conflict.
Jules Hurst, acting comptroller, told lawmakers at a House Armed Services Committee hearing that most of the spending was on munitions. He did not specify what the estimate included or whether it covered projected costs for rebuilding or repairing damaged U.S. base infrastructure in the Middle East.
Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the committee, said: “I’m glad you answered that question. Because we’ve been asking for a long time, and no one’s given us the number.” The $25 billion figure equals the entire NASA budget for the year, though it is unclear how the Pentagon calculated it. A Reuters source previously said the first six days of the war alone cost at least $11.3 billion.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the spending, saying it was justified to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.“What would you pay to ensure Iran does not get a nuclear bomb?” Hegseth asked. He also defended the war, calling it necessary and criticizing Democratic lawmakers, saying their comments were “feckless” and “defeatist,” while accusing them of undermining U.S. efforts.
