--- title: "War with Iran Cost the US $47 Billion: Pentagon Reveals Expense Structure" description: "The Pentagon informed Congress that the U.S. military campaign against Iran has cost at least $47 billion. The data coincided with the finale of the midterm elections and preparation for a new operation in the Middle East." date: 2026-10-28T11:49:04.752Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/us-spent-47-billion-on-iran-war tags: [iran-war, us-military-spending, pentagon, midterm-elections, donald-trump] author: "Marina Slivenko, Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # War with Iran Cost the US $47 Billion: Pentagon Reveals Expense Structure ![U.S. President Donald Trump points a finger emphatically during a press conference](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/28/ssha-potratili-47-milliardov-na-voynu-s-iranom/ssha-potratili-47-milliardov-na-voynu-s-iranom-1.webp) ## Key Points - The cost of the U.S. military campaign against Iran has risen to at least $47 billion, $3.5 billion more than the September estimate. - Over $29 billion went to replenishing ammunition, nearly $12 billion to operations, and about $6.1 billion to equipment replacement. - The data release coincided with the midterm elections finale and fuel price hikes, putting pressure on Republicans. - CNN reported preparations for a potential large-scale U.S. operation against Iran, with no final decision yet made. American media reported on October 27 that the cost of the U.S. military campaign against Iran has risen to at least $47 billion, which is $3.5 billion higher than the estimate made in early September. Data gathered by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on October 16 and passed by the Pentagon to Congress last week records accelerating cost growth amid the protracted conflict, which began on February 28 with coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities. ### Expense Structure: Ammunition and Operations More than $29 billion of the total amount was directed toward replenishing used ammunition, including anti-air interceptor missiles and bombs. Another nearly $12 billion went to direct military operations, and about $6.1 billion was allocated for replacing lost military equipment. Thus, arsenal restoration remains the largest cost item, highlighting the scale of ordnance expended during the conflict. ### Costs by Military Branch Since the start of coordinated attacks on February 28, costs for the U.S. Air Force have amounted to approximately $7.6 billion, the Army to $2.1 billion, and the Navy to $1.5 billion. However, these estimates do not include the cost of repairing damage to American military bases in the Middle East, meaning the actual cost of the campaign could turn out higher than the cited figures. ### Political Context: Midterm Elections The publication of these data coincides with the concluding stage of the U.S. midterm elections. The conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has led to a sharp rise in fuel prices, increasing the living cost burden for American voters and putting pressure on the approval levels of Republican candidates. At the same time, President Donald Trump's Republicans hold only a slim majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. At campaign rallies, Trump has repeatedly stated that the war with Iran would end quickly and oil prices would drop immediately, yet the prospect of ending the conflict remains fragile as both sides continue to reject compromise. ### Preparing a New Operation Against this backdrop, CNN reported on October 26, citing two American officials, about the deployment of U.S. armed forces in the Middle East to carry out potential attacks against Iran. According to sources, the new operation could go far beyond limited strikes on radar systems, missile launchers, and other military targets that Iran is capable of quickly rebuilding; one official characterized it as large-scale. Meanwhile, the Washington administration has reportedly not yet made a final decision on continuing the operation. ## Accounts differ ### State of U.S. Ammunition Stockpiles After the Conflict with Iran - **U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General (Independent Oversight Body):** The war led to shortages in strategic stockpiles of certain munitions and issues with their replenishment; over $22 bln was spent on ammunition from February to June. ([bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/russian/articles/cqly711velnjo)) - **President Donald Trump / White House:** Ammunition stockpiles are 'virtually limitless', reports of their depletion are 'fake news', and the U.S. possesses 'more than enough' weaponry. ([bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/russian/articles/cqly711velnjo)) *Where they agree:* Significant amounts of ammunition were expended during the conflict, and tens of billions of dollars have been directed toward their replenishment — acknowledged by both Pentagon data and administration statements. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [США потратили на войну с Ираном не менее 47 миллиардов долларов.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/my-tieu-ton-it-nhat-47-ti-usd-cho-cuoc-chien-iran) - Base primary source: $47 bln, expense structure (29/12/6.1 bln), costs by military branch, political context, CNN data on the new operation. - [США потратили на войну с Ираном $38 миллиардов за 5 месяцев и это еще не предел, - Politico](https://www.unian.net/world/voyna-s-iranom-oboshlas-nalogoplatelshchikam-ssha-v-38-milliardov-dollarov-na-chto-ushli-dengi-13500915.html) - Earlier slice (CBO): $38 bln for the first five months, $21.7 bln for missile/air defense replacement; confirms expenditure scale and stockpile depletion. - [Война с Ираном привела к дефициту боеприпасов в США, подтвердил генеральный инспектор Пентагона](https://www.bbc.com/russian/articles/cqly711velnjo) - Pentagon Inspector General position on strategic stockpile deficits and discrepancy with Trump's statements; $22 bln on ammunition for February–June. - [Война с Ираном обошлась США в десятки миллиардов и привела к дефициту боеприпасов — инспектор ...](https://zn.ua/usa/vojna-s-iranom-oboshlas-ssha-v-desjatki-milliardov-i-privela-k-defitsitu-boepripasov-inspektor-pentahona.html) - Confirms Pentagon inspector findings on ammunition shortages and replenishment issues. ## FAQ ### How much, according to the Pentagon, did the U.S. military campaign against Iran cost? At least $47 billion, which is $3.5 billion higher than the September estimate. Over $29 billion went to ammunition replenishment, nearly $12 billion to operations, and about $6.1 billion to equipment replacement. ### Do these estimates include repairs to American bases in the Middle East? No. The cost of repairing damage to U.S. military bases in the Middle East is not included in the cited figures, so the actual campaign cost could be higher. ### Has the U.S. administration made a decision on a new operation against Iran? According to CNN citing two officials, a final decision has not yet been made, although forces are being deployed for potential strikes that could go beyond limited attacks.