U.S. military officials estimate that the Trump administration’s war with Iran has cost more than $47 billion through mid-October, a rise of more than $3 billion over the past several weeks, according to a document reviewed by The Washington Post.
The total includes $29 billion in munitions that have been fired by U.S. forces since the conflict began eight months ago, the document shows. The destruction of other weapons platforms, such as fighter jets, has cost $6 billion, it says.
The latest figures do not account for damage to U.S. bases in the region, especially facilities in the Persian Gulf, which have been battered by Iranian drones and ballistic missiles.
The estimate was compiled by U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East. It marks the military’s latest and most detailed tally of the Iran war’s financial costs. Central Command last projected that the war had cost at least $43.6 billion through early September.
The rising expense has forced the Pentagon to shift billions of dollars from within its existing budget to cover shortfalls caused by the conflict as the military has had to rush troops and equipment to the Middle East and keep them there for months on end.
Per the most recent estimate, the Air Force had spent about $7.6 billion to sustain the military operation, whereas the Army and the Navy had spent $2 billion and $1.45 billion, respectively.
The Iran war, which was initiated by the Trump administration in tandem with Israel on Feb. 28, has proved deeply unpopular with the American public, polling shows. It has emerged as a central issue in next week’s midterm elections, with voters frustrated by the soaring cost of gas and other goods linked to Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
At the outset of the conflict, President Donald Trump predicted that hostilities would be over in about five weeks. His administration has been unable to secure a lasting ceasefire on terms that the president finds favorable to American interests, however, and he has threatened to resume attacks on Iran after the midterms.
It is far from clear that renewed U.S. strikes on Iran would bring the conflict to a quick end.
While Iran is suffering significant economic pain due to the war and a U.S. naval blockade, recent classified assessments by the CIA conclude that Iran has several months of food and fuel stockpiled that would help it mitigate the effects of the revived U.S. military campaign Trump has threatened, a U.S. official said. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.
Iran could respond to fresh U.S. strikes in three ways, the assessments say. Iran might attempt further restrictions of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, cranking up economic costs for the United States. It could attempt violent terrorist attacks on U.S. targets globally. And it could conduct cyber operations against assets in the United States.