US war costs in Iran exceed $29 billion: Pentagon

US war costs in Iran exceed $29 billion: Pentagon

The total cost of the ongoing US war against Iran has now surpassed $29 billion, the Pentagon's acting comptroller Jules Hurst has said. The figure is $4 billion higher than the Pentagon's previous estimate of $25 billion provided on April 29.

During a briefing with US lawmakers on Tuesday, May 12, Hurst said the newly added costs include the latest repairs, equipment replacement, and operational expenses. He stated that the Joint Staff team and the comptroller's team are continuously reviewing the figures. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine were also present at the briefing.

However, it remains unclear how the Pentagon arrived at this figure, Reuters reported. A source familiar with the matter had told the news agency in March that the cost of the first six days of the war alone was $1.13 billion.

With only six months remaining until the US midterm elections, Democrats are successfully using the spiralling war costs to shape public opinion by linking them to the rising cost of living.

Democrats are already significantly ahead of Republicans in opinion polls, potentially making it a tough battle for President Donald Trump's Republican party to maintain its majority in the House of Representatives.