Pentagon Says Iran War Has Cost $25 Billion So Far, Most In Munitions

The Iran war has so far cost $25 billion, a top Defense official said on Wednesday. Speaking during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Acting Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst said most of the price tag is “in munitions.”

“There is part of that, it’s obviously [operations and maintenance] and equipment replacement,” he added. Ranking member Adam Smith, a Democrat, said he appreciated the response. “I’m glad you answered that question, because we’ve been asking for a hell of a long time, and no one’s given us the number,” he said. “So if you could get those details over to us, that would be great.”

However, Smith also questioned whether the war had managed to achieve any of the Trump administration’s stated goals. “Iran’s nuclear program is exactly what it was before this war started,” Smith said.

“They have not lost their capacity to inflict pain. They still have a ballistic missile program. They’re still able to blockade the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.

President Donald Trump, however, seems intent in continuing the war, albeit largely through economic pressure. He said he is maintaining the blockade of Iranian ports until a deal that addresses the U.S.’s concerns about the country’s nuclear program is reached.

Speaking to Axios, Trump said he rejected an Iranian proposal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz without a nuclear deal. He said the ongoing blockade is “somewhat more effective than the bombing.”

“They are choking like a stuffed pig. And it is going to be worse for them. They can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “They want to settle. They don’t want me to keep the blockade. I don’t want to [lift the blockade], because I don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon,” he added.

Trump claimed that Tehran’s oil storage facilities and pipelines are “getting close to exploding” because the country can’t ship exports as a result of the blockade.

The outlet also cited three sources who said the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has prepared a “short and powerful” wave of renewed strikes hoping to break the deadlock.

Iran, in turn, has threatened “unprecedented military action” if the U.S. continues with the blockade.

Citing an unnamed official, Iranian state-run press said its leaders’ “patience has limits” and a continued blockade would warrant a “punishing response.”

“The official warned that the enemy should soon expect a different kind of response,” the report added, without offering any additional details.