The United States’ war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far, a senior Pentagon official said, providing the first official estimate of the military’s price tag for the conflict.
Jules Hurst, who is performing the duties of the comptroller, told lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee that most of that money was for munitions.
Hurst did not detail what that cost estimate included and whether it took into account the projected costs of rebuilding and repairing base infrastructure in the Middle East damaged in the conflict.
Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, responded to Hurst: “I’m glad you answered that question. Because we’ve been asking for a hell of a long time, and no one’s given us the number.”
Earlier, in March President Donald Trump’s administration estimated that the first six days of the war had cost the United States at least 11.3 billion dollars.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that the cost was justified given the U.S. goal of ensuring Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.
“What would you pay to ensure Iran does not get a nuclear bomb? What would you pay?” Hegseth asked.
Also Read: Iran seeks $270b as war reparation from US, Israel
The United States started carrying out strikes against Iran on February 28, and the two sides are currently maintaining a fragile ceasefire.
The Pentagon has poured tens of thousands of additional forces into the Middle East, including keeping three aircraft carriers in the region.
Iran had earlier made an estimate which indicated that Iran has suffered about $270bn in direct and indirect damages since the start of the US-Israel war on February 28, Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said during an interview with Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency.
Iran has also raised the idea of compensation for damages to come through a Strait of Hormuz protocol, which would include a tax on ships passing through the waterway.
Iran has demanded that it receive compensation for the destruction caused by the United States and Israel’s attacks, as the country remains defiant and regional powers continue their attempts to mediate an end to the conflict.
Tehran’s envoy to the United Nations said that five regional countries must pay compensation, based on his accusation that their territories were used for launching attacks on Iran.
NAN
