US War Costs in Iran Exceed $47 Billion, Pentagon Data Shows

The US military’s cost of conducting the war in Iran has surpassed $47 billion, more than 25 percent above the Pentagon’s estimate in July, according to Defence Department data obtained by Reuters.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The latest estimate has not been made public.

The rising cost of the conflict comes as Republicans face mounting political pressure ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress for the next two years. Higher global energy costs linked to the war have weighed on support for Republican candidates and contributed to a decline in President Donald Trump’s approval ratings. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress.

According to the latest Pentagon figures, the estimated cost includes more than $29 billion to replenish ammunition and other munitions used during the conflict. A further $6 billion or more would be required to replace military equipment and compensate for platform losses, including aircraft and numerous drones destroyed during the war.

Trump launched the military campaign alongside Israel in February, initially predicting a short conflict. The administration’s early strategy relied on expensive, high-end precision missiles to weaken Iran’s defences before shifting to cheaper weapons, including widely available Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), which convert conventional bombs into precision-guided weapons.

However, an April ceasefire gave Iran time to recover equipment from underground storage facilities and restore some air-defence systems, missiles and drones that had previously been inaccessible.

Trump has since imposed a naval blockade targeting Iran to restrict its oil export revenues and has raised the possibility of resuming combat operations after the midterm elections. US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Pentagon had been preparing for a possible return to intense fighting if ordered.

The latest estimate marks a significant increase from the $37.5 billion figure provided by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in July.

The Pentagon’s calculations include a range of operational expenses, from flight operations to cyber support. However, they do not clearly account for the potentially substantial costs of repairing US military bases damaged by Iranian missile and drone attacks.