Pentagon Says US War in Iran Has Cost $29 Billion So Far
Defense officials report rising operational and equipment expenses as political pressure grows ahead of US midterm elections
2 min read
A view of the Qatari Al-Araby TV and business building damaged by a strike, as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran continues, in Tehran, Iran, March 29, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo
The United States has spent approximately $29 billion on the ongoing conflict involving Iran, according to senior Pentagon officials, marking a $4 billion increase from estimates released late last month.
Jules Hurst, currently serving in the role of Pentagon comptroller, informed lawmakers that the updated figure includes operational expenses along with repair and replacement costs for military equipment.
“The joint staff team and the comptroller team are constantly looking at that estimate,” Hurst said during a congressional appearance alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine.
The Pentagon had previously estimated on April 29 that the conflict had cost $25 billion. Earlier internal projections reportedly suggested that the first six days of military operations alone had already exceeded $11 billion in expenses.
Officials have not publicly detailed the methodology used to calculate the latest $29 billion estimate.
The financial burden of the conflict is increasingly becoming a political issue ahead of upcoming US midterm elections. Critics of the administration have linked the rising war expenditure to broader concerns over inflation, energy prices, and the overall cost of living.
The conflict has also contributed to global economic uncertainty, particularly through disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy shipping route affected by regional tensions.
As military operations and diplomatic standoffs continue, analysts expect the total cost of the conflict to rise further in the coming months.