Washington, United States. The United States’ war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far, a senior Pentagon official said on Wednesday, offering the first official estimate of the conflict’s price tag. The disclosure comes as Democrats seek to tie the war to affordability concerns ahead of mid-term elections.
First official estimate presented to lawmakers
Jules Hurst, who is performing the duties of the comptroller, told the House Armed Services Committee that most of the spending has gone toward munitions.
Hurst did not specify what the estimate includes or whether it accounts for projected costs to rebuild and repair base infrastructure in the Middle East damaged in the conflict.
Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the committee, responded to Hurst by saying lawmakers had sought the figure for an extended period without receiving it.
Military operations and casualties
The United States began carrying out strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, and the two sides are currently maintaining what was described as a fragile ceasefire.
The Pentagon has sent tens of thousands of additional forces to the Middle East, including maintaining three aircraft carriers in the region.
Thirteen U.S. troops have been killed in the conflict and hundreds have been wounded.
Economic and political impact
Disruptions in oil and natural gas shipments since the war began have contributed to higher U.S. gasoline prices and increases in agricultural products such as fertilizers, adding to other elevated consumer prices.
With six months before mid-term elections, Democrats have been polling well as they attempt to connect the war with affordability issues, while Trump’s popularity has declined since the U.S. and Israel launched the war against Iran on Feb. 28.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 34% of Americans approve of the U.S. conflict with Iran, down from 36% in mid-April and 38% in mid-March.
How do you think the reported cost of the war will affect the mid-term election campaign?
