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Pentagons latest iran war cost estimate billion
Confirmed
In Short: The Pentagon has estimated the cost of the US war on Iran at $43.6 billion, with potential monthly costs of up to $3 billion.
The Pentagon has released a new cost estimate for the ongoing US war on Iran, putting the total at $43.6 billion as of September 3, 2026. This figure includes $11.2 billion already spent on operating expenses and $32.4 billion in unfunded replacement costs for munitions and damaged equipment.
According to a Pentagon document submitted to Congress, the estimate does not cover costs associated with diplomatic operations, foreign aid, or expenses related to military personnel killed or injured, future veterans' health care, and disability compensation.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) had previously estimated the war's cost at $38.1 billion through July, while the Defense Department's inspector general put the figure at $33.4 billion.
The new estimate arrives as polls show increasing American opposition to the war, partly due to its economic impact, and as the November midterm elections approach.
The CBO also noted that the war has contributed to rising inflation and energy costs, with 31 percent of Americans supporting US military action against Iran.
The Pentagon's estimate does not include the cost of addressing potential billions of dollars in damages to US bases in the Middle East or future potential costs, which the CBO estimates may be $2 billion to $3 billion a month going forward.
The strikes on Kharg Island, which handles approximately 90 percent of Iran's crude exports, have further contributed to the economic strain.
Democrats in the Senate are calling for a complete accounting of the war's costs, with nearly every Senate Democrat and independent Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine signing on to a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The conflict has also contributed to rising energy costs, with 31 percent of Americans supporting US military action against Iran, and the issue looming large as the November midterm elections approach.
The war has cost the country $38 billion so far, with an estimated $3 billion added every month if the conflict continues, placing strain on the country’s finances and economy.
The strikes on Kharg Island, which handles approximately 90 percent of Iran's crude exports, have further contributed to the economic strain.
The Pentagon has estimated the cost of the ongoing US war on Iran at $43.6 billion, with potential monthly costs of up to $3 billion, according to a Pentagon document submitted to Congress and viewed by CQ Roll Call.
What this adds
The new Pentagon estimate of $43.6 billion is current as of Sept. 3, the document said — the most recent reckoning.
The figure also does not account for future potential costs, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates may be $2 billion to $3 billion a month going forward.
The estimates sent to lawmakers do not include likely tens of billions of dollars in damage to US bases in the Middle East as a result of Iran’s attacks.
The cost of equipment losses will be adjusted as more assessments come in.
Background
The Pentagon estimates the cost of the US war on Iran at $43.6 billion, with potential monthly costs of up to $3 billion.
What's confirmed
- The cost estimate comes as polls show Americans increasingly oppose the war, partly over its impact on the economy, and the issue is looming large as the November midterm elections approach.
- The Pentagon’s latest figure comprises $11.2 billion already obligated for operating expenses — for fuel, combat pay, aircraft, medical care, parts and the like — plus $32.4 billion in unfunded replacement costs for munitions, damaged aircraft and other assets, according to a Pentagon document submitted to Congress and viewed by CQ Roll Call.
- The Pentagon’s new partial estimate is close to figures publicized earlier this week in separate reports from the department’s inspector general and the Congressional Budget Office, both of which cited U.S. military cost figures as the source of their estimates.
- CBO noted that its estimate does not cover costs associated with diplomatic operations or foreign aid, nor expenses related to military personnel killed or injured, future veterans’ health care and disability compensation or spending or future maintenance costs for military assets used in the conflict. [Related: Iran war has cost $38 billion and counting, CBO says ] The IG, meanwhile, put the figure at $33.4 billion.
- The department’s latest cost estimate arrived on Capitol Hill about the same time that nearly every Senate Democrat and independent Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine were signing on to a letter to Hegseth calling for a complete accounting of the war’s costs.
- The estimate does not include the cost of addressing potentially billions of dollars in damages to U.S.
- The estimate, which covers the war’s direct costs through Aug. 1, is in line with the Pentagon’s most recent public accounting from July, when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress that the war had cost $37.5 billion.
What's still developing
- The new Pentagon estimate of $43.6 billion is current as of Sept. 3, the document said — the most recent reckoning.
- Moreover, the Defense Department estimate does not take into account the impact of inflation, which has risen due to war-related restrictions in shipping routes in the region.
- President Trump’s seven-month war on Iran has cost the American taxpayer $45.1 billion, according to estimates the United States Central Command gave Congress this week.
- According to the CENTCOM estimate, $28.1 billion went toward replacing spent munitions, $11.2 billion went toward general operations, and $4.3 billion went to weapons and tools that were “lost.” Another $1.5 billion went toward fuel.
- There was also not a more detailed breakdown of the costs.
- The conflict has rattled the global energy market, contributing to rising prices as US voters express concern about the cost of living in the run-up to the November US midterm elections.
- Democrats were expecting the cost estimate to be higher than the CBO reached in its report, in part because they believed it would account for the cost of borrowing to finance the war.
- Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world The Pentagon has told Congress it has spent $43.6 billion on Iran operations so far.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers earlier this year that the Pentagon’s emergency supplemental request for Iran operations includes $21 billion to speed up the acquisition of high-end missiles and new lower-cost munitions that haven’t been purchased yet.
- The cost includes replacing expended munitions and equipment lost in battle, increased flying hours and increased fuel costs, the CBO said.
- Every additional month of conflict will cost at least $2 billion to $3 billion more, according to CBO. ( Updates articles throughout with nature of the document and with details on munitions that need to be replenished ) Log in to keep reading or access research tools and resources.
- The cost of equipment losses will be adjusted as more assessments come in.