The financial cost of the Iran war to American taxpayers is being understated by officials and could balloon into the trillions of dollars over the long term, The Intercept has warned.
The US military budget, the world’s largest, surpassed $830 billion for fiscal year 2026. President Donald Trump has boasted that the regime-change campaign in Tehran could be waged “forever” using the Pentagon’s current munition stockpiles, though skeptics say weapons depletion is a major issue.
On Wednesday, The Intercept contrasted estimates of Operation Epic Fury provided by Trump administration officials with figures from experts, lawmakers, and two government officials interviewed on condition of anonymity.
The $12 billion estimate given on Sunday by Trump economic adviser Kevin Hassett does not account for the cost of the buildup in the Middle East that preceded the US-Israeli attack in late February, the outlet stated. A three-week war would directly cost between $60 billion and $130 billion, rising to $250 billion if it extends to eight weeks, government sources told the outlet.
Lawmakers expect the administration to add at least $50 billion to the $1.5 trillion War Department budget request for fiscal year 2027.
Long-term expenses – including veteran’s benefits and interest on additional debt – could push the total into trillions, similar to the Iraq War, the report stressed. The George W. Bush administration initially estimated the cost of toppling Saddam Hussein at $40 billion, but independent assessments put the figure at around $8 trillion by 2021.
US national debt is approaching $39 trillion, up from $38 trillion last October, according to Treasury data. Trump campaigned for president by promising not to start costly new wars and instead reduce debt by cutting wasteful government spending.
This week, Joe Kent, head of the US National Counterterrorism Center, resigned in protest against the Iran war. He said that contrary to Trump’s assertions, Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation” and that the attack was launched “due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
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