The US war against Iran has cost about $25 billion since Operation Epic Fury began in late February, a senior Department of Defense official told Congress Wednesday.
The cost of the war includes munitions used, the buildup of forces in and around the Middle East, and equipment that’s been damaged or destroyed. But the war has also had broader economic impacts on energy prices, especially crude oil and natural gas, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
On Wednesday, Pentagon leadership was on Capitol Hill to discuss the $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 budget request, as well as costs associated with Operation Epic Fury.
When asked by Rep. Adam Smith, a Washington Democrat, about a cost estimate or supplemental request, Jules Hurst, the acting Pentagon comptroller, revealed that the US had spent approximately $25 billion on the war.
“Most of that is in munitions. There is part that is obviously O&M and equipment replacement,” Hurst said, referring to operations and maintenance. Hurst added that the Pentagon would provide a supplemental request once the Pentagon “has a full assessment of the cost of the conflict.”
The $25 billion cost aligns with figures from expert assessments of the cost of the war. Earlier this month, as the US-Iran ceasefire began, defense experts at the American Enterprise Institute think tank estimated an incremental cost to date of between $25 and $35 billion.
While Hurst didn’t specify how much of the cost was due to munitions expenditure, the US has burned through stockpiles of critical weapons in the war, many of which are costly and take years to replace, prompting concerns about preparedness for future conflicts, such as a potential war with China.
Experts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies say seven key munitions have been heavily used in Operation Epic Fury, including 190 to 290 THAAD interceptors, a large share of SM-3 interceptors, 40 to 70 of a limited arsenal of Precision Strike Missiles, and more than 850 Tomahawks.
While many of the companies that produce these weapons are ramping up production to replenish and deepen defense stockpiles, the expansions depend on new funding from Congress and production timelines.
Beyond the $25 billion spent on the war in Iran is the broader economic impact of the war. The costs will likely continue to increase as the US continues to blockade Iranian ports, negotiations between Washington and Tehran show little progress, and the US remains prepared to resume combat operations in the region with a massive force buildup in and around the Middle East.
The ongoing closure of the strait has driven crude oil and natural gas prices up, and the consequences are expected to continue to be felt across various industries and sectors.
