US Iran war cost hits $25 billion in two months, Pentagon confirms
Synopsis
Two months into Operation Epic Fury, the US war against Iran has already cost $25 billion — with $11.3 billion spent in the first six days alone. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth refused to say how long the conflict will last or what it will ultimately cost, even as he defended a record $1.5 trillion defence budget for 2027.
Key Takeaways
Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst III confirmed the US-Iran war has cost approximately $25 billion as of 30 April .
The operation is codenamed Operation Epic Fury ; costs are driven primarily by munitions, operations, maintenance, and equipment replacements .
Earlier figures showed $11.3 billion was spent in just the first six days of the conflict, per a closed-door briefing on 11 March .
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to say how long the war will last or its ultimate cost.
Hegseth defended a proposed record $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget for fiscal year 2027 .
The hearing marked Hegseth's first public questioning since US military strikes on Iran began.
A senior Pentagon official has confirmed that the ongoing US military campaign against Iran, codenamed Operation Epic Fury, has cost approximately $25 billion so far, as the conflict enters its second month. Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst III disclosed the figure before the House Armed Services Committee on 30 April, marking one of the most detailed public accounting of the war's financial toll to date.
Key Figures at the Hearing
Hurst testified alongside Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine. He stated that the bulk of the $25 billion expenditure was driven by munitions costs, with additional outlays covering operations, maintenance, and equipment replacements. The testimony, reported by Xinhua news agency, offers the most comprehensive public breakdown of war spending since hostilities began.
Notably, this figure dwarfs earlier estimates. According to previous media reports, Pentagon officials told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing on 11 March that the Trump administration had already spent more than $11.3 billion in just the first six days of the conflict — suggesting a significant acceleration in spending pace in subsequent weeks.
Hegseth's First Public Questioning Since Strikes Began
The hours-long hearing marked Defence Secretary Hegseth's first public questioning since the United States launched military strikes against Iran. The session was marked by a sharp partisan divide. Most Republicans expressed support for President Donald Trump's decision to carry out military action, while Democrats engaged in heated exchanges with Hegseth over the war's strategy, objectives, and consequences.
In response to pointed Democratic questions about the rapidly escalating costs, significant reductions in key munitions stockpiles, and the conflict's impact on US citizens' cost of living, Hegseth dismissed criticism of the war as political. He also declined to answer questions about how long the conflict might last or what its ultimate financial cost would be.
Record Defence Budget Defended
Hegseth used the hearing to defend the Pentagon's proposed $1.5 trillion defence budget for fiscal year 2027 — a record-high figure.
Point of View
Arriving alongside an active and open-ended conflict, will test Congressional appetite in ways that post-9/11 supplemental spending debates did not. The real accountability gap here is the munitions stockpile drawdown — a detail Hegseth sidestepped, but one that carries long-term strategic risk well beyond the Iran theatre.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has the US war against Iran cost so far?
According to acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst III, the US war against Iran — codenamed Operation Epic Fury — has cost approximately $25 billion as of 30 April. The bulk of this expenditure is attributed to munitions, along with operations, maintenance, and equipment replacements.
What is Operation Epic Fury?
Operation Epic Fury is the codename for the ongoing US military campaign against Iran. The operation has been running for approximately two months as of 30 April, when Pentagon officials testified before the House Armed Services Committee.
How much did the US spend in the first six days of the Iran war?
According to previous media reports, Pentagon officials told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing on 11 March that the Trump administration spent more than $11.3 billion in the first six days of the conflict against Iran.
What did Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth say about the war's duration and cost?
Hegseth declined to answer questions about how long the conflict might last or what its ultimate cost would be. He dismissed Democratic criticism of the war as political during his first public questioning since the US launched military strikes against Iran.
What is the Pentagon's proposed defence budget for fiscal year 2027?
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth defended a proposed record-high Pentagon budget of $1.5 trillion for fiscal year 2027, arguing it would ensure the US maintains the world's most powerful military amid a complex global threat environment.
