The US war with Iran has cost approximately $45.1 billion, according to figures the Pentagon provided to Congress on Friday, two sources familiar with the matter said.
The Pentagon informed lawmakers that the war had cost $43.6 billion as of September 3, with an additional $1.5 billion spent on fuel, bringing the total to $45.1 billion.
However, the figure does not represent a complete assessment of the war’s overall cost. The estimate excludes expenses related to repairing damaged US military bases and buildings and does not provide the detailed breakdown of indirect military operation costs that lawmakers had requested, one source said.
The Pentagon’s latest estimate is higher than the $38 billion projected by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) through August 1. It also exceeds the Pentagon’s previous estimate of $37.5 billion released in July.
The CBO noted that most of the war’s costs have come from spending on military munitions. Its estimate also excluded the cost of repairing damaged US facilities.
According to the CBO, the conflict is expected to cost the US an additional $2 billion to $3 billion per month beyond August 1, with expenses likely to rise during periods of intensified fighting.
The budget office also warned that the war could contribute to higher inflation in the first quarter of 2027, potentially adding to economic pressures as concerns about the US economy continue to grow.
