US-Iran War Cost Hits $25 Billion, Economic Pressure Mounts Amid Blockade And Ceasefire

Last Updated:April 30, 2026, 07:32 IST

The US war in Iran has cost about $25 billion, with Pentagon officials defending the spending as necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The United States’ war in Iran has cost an estimated $25 billion so far, a senior Pentagon official told lawmakers, marking the first official figure for the conflict’s price tag, according to Reuters.

Acting comptroller Jules Hurst was quoted as saying that most of the spending had gone toward munitions, though he did not specify whether the estimate included long-term costs such as rebuilding damaged infrastructure.

Responding to the disclosure, Representative Adam Smith noted lawmakers had long sought clarity on the financial toll, saying, “I’m glad you answered that question. Because we’ve been asking for a hell of a long time, and no one’s given us the number."

PENTAGON DEFENDS COST AMID POLITICAL PRESSURE

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the expenditure during the same hearing, framing it in terms of national security priorities.

“What would you pay to ensure Iran does not get a nuclear bomb? What would you pay?" he asked lawmakers, while rejecting criticism that the conflict had become a prolonged entanglement.

The report mentioned that the war, launched on February 28, has already seen significant troop deployments, including additional forces and multiple aircraft carriers in the Middle East.

The conflict has resulted in 13 US troop deaths and hundreds of injuries, even as a fragile ceasefire currently holds.

The financial burden comes at a politically sensitive time, with rising inflation and fuel prices in the United States shaping voter sentiment ahead of midterm elections.

Public approval of the war has declined, with just 34 per cent of Americans backing the conflict, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

REPORT FLAGS OPERATION DETAILS

AFP similarly reported that the war has cost about $25 billion since late February, citing Hurst’s testimony that “most of that is in munitions" under what officials call “Operation Epic Fury."

However, Hegseth suggested the figure may still be slightly lower at this stage, while reiterating the broader objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

“The question I would ask this committee is, what is it worth to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon?" he said.

The report added that although an initial two-week ceasefire has been extended indefinitely by President Donald Trump, the conflict remains unresolved and continues to carry significant economic consequences.

ECONOMIC FALLOUT INSIDE IRAN

According to AP, the war’s impact is being acutely felt inside Iran, where the national currency has plunged to a record low amid mounting economic pressure.

The rial dropped to 1.8 million to the dollar, exacerbating inflation in a country heavily dependent on imports for essential goods.

A US naval blockade has further strained Iran’s economy by disrupting oil shipments, a critical source of revenue.

The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of global oil and gas flows, has intensified tensions, with Iran’s closure of the route pushing up global prices for fuel and food.

AP reported that dozens of nations have urged reopening the waterway, warning of broader economic consequences.

Meanwhile, domestic pressures in Iran are mounting, with rising costs of everyday goods such as milk, rice, and cooking oil adding to public frustration.

STANDOFF PERSISTS DESPITE DIPLOMATIC SIGNALS

Efforts to ease tensions remain ongoing but uncertain.

AP noted that Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the blockade, saying, “The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing. They can’t have a nuclear weapon."

With negotiations stalled and economic pressures escalating on both sides, the conflict continues to reverberate far beyond the battlefield, shaping global markets and domestic politics alike.

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