The United States’ spending on its war against Iran has exceeded $47bn, according to a Pentagon estimate obtained by Reuters, representing an increase of more than 25 per cent from the figure announced in July.
The latest estimate, which has not been publicly released, includes operational expenses, the replacement of ammunition and the cost of military equipment lost during the conflict.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the figures.
More than $29bn is projected to be required to replenish munitions expended during the war, while over $6bn would be needed to replace military equipment and other losses, including aircraft and numerous drones, according to the Pentagon data.
The rising cost of the conflict comes as Republicans face mounting political pressure ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, which will determine control of the US Congress for the next two years.
The war’s impact on global energy prices has weakened support for Republican candidates and affected President Donald Trump’s approval ratings.
His party currently holds narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress.
The latest estimate is higher than the $37.5bn figure provided in July by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The costs cover various military operations, including flight activities and cyber support, but do not clearly account for the substantial expenses expected to repair US military bases damaged by Iranian missile and drone attacks.
Trump launched the war jointly with Israel in February, initially predicting that the conflict would be brief.
His early military strategy focused on using expensive precision missiles to destroy Iran’s defences before switching to cheaper weapons, including air-launched Joint Direct Attack Munitions, commonly known as JDAMs.
However, an April ceasefire gave Iran time to recover equipment from underground storage facilities and restore some of its defences, missiles and drones that had previously been inaccessible.
Trump has since imposed a naval blockade on Iran to cut off revenue from its oil exports while leaving open the possibility of resuming military operations after the midterm elections.
US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Pentagon had been preparing for a possible return to intense fighting if ordered to proceed.
