Pentagon tells Congress Iran war costs $45.1 billion

The Pentagon has provided Congress with a new, higher cost estimate for the ongoing US conflict with Iran, placing the total at $45.1 billion as of September 3. This figure, which includes $43.6 billion in war-related costs and an additional $1.5 billion for fuel, represents a significant increase from previous estimates and comes as questions also arise about the official US military death toll. The new estimate was delivered to congressional defense committees on Friday, according to multiple reports. It is based on an assessment from US Central Command (CENTCOM) and marks a rise from the Pentagon's earlier public estimate of $37.5 billion in July and a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projection of $38 billion through August 1. The $43.6 billion war-related cost includes $28.1 billion for replacing expended munitions, $11.2 billion in obligated operational costs, and $4.3 billion for equipment losses. However, officials noted the estimate is incomplete. It does not include the cost of repairing damaged US military bases and buildings across the Middle East, nor does it provide a full accounting of indirect operational costs.