The Pentagon said that the cost of the Iran war has risen to $29 billion (€24.7bn), roughly $4bn more compared to the estimate provided two weeks ago.
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The updated estimate comes amid growing concerns by US lawmakers over the cost of the war and its impact on diminishing US weapons stockpiles.
A large sum of the amount has gone towards replacing munitions and repairing equipment. According to Pentagon comptroller Jay Hurst, the estimate does not account for the cost of repairing or rebuilding US military sites damaged in the region.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth once again faced criticism on Tuesday from lawmakers in Congress about the US’ dimishing weapons stockpiles, the rising cost of war, and President Donald Trump’s end game.
While Hegseth had softened his tone compared to last month’s session, where he received similar criticism, it was notable that the Pentagon chief received a lot more pushback from within his own Republican Party this time.
Hegseth rejected claims that Washington is running out of weapons stockpiles, “I take issue with the characterisation that munitions are depleted in a public forum,” he said. “That’s not true.”
At the same time, the defence secretary told House and Senate lawmakers overseeing defence spending that the Trump administration is working to increase weapons production.
Hegseth also faced questions about the administration’s 2027 military budget proposal, as well as the impact of the war on military funding.
California Republican Rep. Ken Calvert, the House subcommittee’s chair questioned whether the war with Iran may be weakening Washington’s long-term readiness.
“Questions persist about whether we are building the depth and reliance required for a high-end conflict,” Calvert said.
When asked about a possible plan to end the war—efforts that have so far failed to gain traction in Congress—Hegseth said Washington has “a plan to escalate if necessary”.
“We have a plan to retrograde if necessary. We have a plan to shift assets,” he added, without further elaborarting.
During the four-hour hearing, the defence secretary also faced pushback regarding Washington’s straining relationships with long-time allies.
“It seems to me that a lot of the European countries think that we’re reducing our influence there, that they’re sort of on their own. And somehow American leadership is not essential to NATO going forward,” Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell told Hegseth.
“I would argue that it certainly essential for us to continue to be the leader,” McConnell added, describing NATO as “the most important military alliance in world history”.
Relations between Trump and NATO soured after member states rejected calls to assist him and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in resecuring the Strait of Hormuz after they initiated strikes against Iran in February.
The leaders of the UK, Germany, France as well as Finnish President Alexander Stubb outright refused to come to Trump’s aid, saying NATO was a defensive alliance and they weren’t obliged to take part in a war of aggression.
The US and Iran remain locked in a standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, which usually handles roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas. The waterway’s closure has rattled global markets, sending energy prices soaring and fuelling fears of supply shortages.
Additional sources • AP
