The key facts

  • US spending on the war with Iran reached $47.1 billion as of October 16; over six weeks it grew by $3.5 billion
  • More than 60% of the costs were munitions: $29 billion has been spent on them since the war began on February 28
  • Up to $70 billion in additional funding is being requested; the report does not include fuel costs and the restoration of damaged bases

The Pentagon reported on the costs of the war with Iran

US spending on military operations against Iran has reached $47.1 billion. This was reported by The New York Times, citing a Pentagon report submitted to Congress; a summary of the publication is provided by Zamon.uz. The Defense Department's calculations are as of October 16: over nearly six weeks since the previous report, spending grew by another $3.5 billion. At the same time, Donald Trump's administration is requesting up to $70 billion in additional funding — to cover the costs of the conflict, new weapons and personnel, as well as restoring military capability. The request is being put forward by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration.

Where the money is going

The largest expense category is munitions: more than 60% of total costs went toward purchasing bombs, missiles and other weapons, and since the war began on February 28, a total of $29 billion has been spent on munitions. According to the outlet, this has led to a drawdown of key systems, including Patriot air defense missiles, and to the need to reallocate resources from US military commands in Asia and Europe. The Air Force spent $7.6 billion on supporting fighter and bomber squadrons, and the Navy spent $1.5 billion on deploying more than 20 warships off the coast of Iran, including aircraft carriers. Maintaining troops in the region cost the Army $2.1 billion, replacing damaged or destroyed equipment $6.1 billion, and deploying several thousand special operations forces $645 million.

The actual costs may be higher

According to The New York Times, members of Congress said the Pentagon's calculations may not cover part of the expenses. The report does not include $1.5 billion intended for fuel and other needs, nor the costs of restoring US military facilities damaged by Iranian attacks, including the naval base in Manama (Bahrain). In the lawmakers' assessment, if a decision is made to restore these facilities, additional costs could reach tens of billions of dollars. Thus, the requested $70 billion is not the final price of the conflict, but a request to cover both confirmed and potential costs, the exact scope of which has not yet been determined.