Pentagon Raises Iran War Cost Estimate to $29 Billion

The US Defense Department has officially increased its estimated cost of the ongoing conflict with Iran to $29 billion, a figure disclosed by Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst during a House Appropriations Committee hearing. This revision marks a significant increase from the $25 billion estimate provided in late April, with officials attributing the majority of expenses to the depletion of US munition stockpiles. However, independent analysts and think tanks argue that the official Pentagon figures significantly understate the true financial burden. Stephen Semler of the Security Policy Reform Institute estimates costs at $71.8 billion for the first 60 days alone, citing high expenditures on interceptors like Patriot and THAAD missiles. The Center for Strategic and International Studies notes that the US may have exhausted up to 80% of its THAAD inventory. Concurrently, reports indicate that Iran retains substantial military capabilities, including 70% of its mobile launchers and prewar missile stockpile, challenging earlier US claims of extensive damage. The conflict continues to impact global trade, with tensions remaining high around the Strait of Hormuz as Washington maintains a blockade on Iranian ports.