US War in Iran Has Cost $47.1 Billion, Military Estimates

The new estimate measures a military bill that has grown substantially since July. US spending on the war in Iran has exceeded $47 billion, more than 25 percent above the Defense Department's July estimate, according to Pentagon data obtained by Reuters.

That comparison tracks the increase between two estimates. The supplied reporting does not establish that July's figure was a forecast for the eventual cost of the entire war.

On October 27, The Hill reported that the cost had risen to $47 billion, an increase of more than $3 billion since the previous month. Its report also said President Trump was considering strikes against Iran after the US midterm elections.

Reporting published on October 28 gave a more precise total and cutoff. The New York Times reported that the Pentagon had told lawmakers the cost reached $47.1 billion through October 16. Bombs, missiles and other munitions accounted for more than 60 percent of expenses.

CBS Top Stories separately reported a total of at least $47.1 billion as of mid-October, citing a new US Central Command estimate it had obtained. The figures align with the broader Pentagon total reported by Reuters.

The replacement bill helps explain the scale of the estimate. More than $29 billion would go toward replacing expended munitions, according to Pentagon data cited by The Independent. NDTV News - World-news News reported that more than $6 billion would be needed to replace military equipment and platform losses, including aircraft and many drones.

The most precise figure in the coverage is $47.1 billion through October 16, as reported by The New York Times. It is a dated military estimate, not a final accounting of the war's cost.

Munitions dominate the expenses identified in the reporting. The replacement figures describe major cost components and should not simply be added to the $47.1 billion total as separate new spending.

A subsequent military estimate would show costs incurred after October 16. Another open question is whether the additional strikes President Trump was considering will proceed, a possibility reported by The Hill, rather than an announced operation.