US Military Operations in Iran Cost $37.5bn to Date, Pentagon Says

World 09:29 AM - 2026-07-22

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The United States' military campaign in Iran has cost an estimated $37.5 billion so far, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers on Tuesday, as the Pentagon sought urgent additional funding for the conflict amid growing political scrutiny in Congress.

Hegseth disclosed the updated figure during a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee, marking his first public appearance before lawmakers since the US military resumed large-scale operations against Iran earlier this month.

The latest estimate represents an increase of almost $8 billion from the last publicly available assessment of the war's cost. According to Hegseth, the figure includes both money already spent on military operations and anticipated expenses through 30 September, including military pay, operations and maintenance costs, and other war-related expenditure.

However, the Pentagon did not provide a detailed breakdown of the spending, and officials acknowledged it remains unclear how the overall figure was calculated. Earlier this year, sources familiar with the administration's estimates said the first six days of the conflict alone had cost at least $11.3 billion, underlining the rapid escalation in military expenditure as the campaign has expanded.

The announcement came as President Donald Trump's administration continues to press Congress to approve a substantial emergency funding package to sustain military operations.

Last month, the administration requested nearly $90 billion in additional funding, with the majority earmarked for the Iran conflict. The Pentagon is seeking roughly $67 billion to cover ongoing military operations, replenish munitions, strengthen force readiness and support other defence priorities.

Hegseth warned senators that without swift congressional approval of the additional funding, the Pentagon may be forced to scale back military training and other readiness activities.

The funding request has prompted increasingly sharp questions from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, many of whom have demanded greater transparency over the war's objectives, costs and long-term strategy.

Democratic lawmakers argued that the administration had failed to clearly explain the purpose of the prolonged military campaign, while expressing concern about the growing financial burden on American taxpayers. Republicans also sought assurances that additional funding would be spent effectively and questioned whether the administration had developed a sustainable strategy for the conflict.

The debate comes at a politically sensitive time, with congressional midterm elections less than six months away. The Trump administration faces mounting pressure to justify both the military campaign and its rising cost as opinion polls suggest the conflict has become increasingly unpopular with many voters.

The renewed funding debate also follows continued fighting after a ceasefire between the United States and Iran collapsed earlier this month. Military operations have since intensified, with both sides continuing to exchange strikes across the region, adding to concerns that the financial and human costs of the conflict will continue to rise.

Sources: Reuters and AP


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