The U.S. military disclosed the latest budget estimate to Congress, stating that as of 3 September, the spending on the war with Iran has surged to $43.6 billion, approximately 1.45 trillion baht. Of this, about $28.1 billion, or roughly 936 billion baht, was spent on weapons and military equipment amid concerns over depleted arms stockpiles and mounting political pressures.
U.S. military expenditures for the Iran war have risen to $43.6 billion, or about 1.45 trillion baht, as of 3 September, according to a new estimate from the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) sent to Congress members this week. This figure is the latest since the U.S. and Israel launched the war on 28 February.
Previously, the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the war cost at $38 billion as of 1 August and projected an increase of about $3 billion per month, depending on the intensity of the fighting.
The new details, obtained by the Associated Press and reported earlier by U.S. media, show that the U.S. military continues to spend heavily on expensive weapons and military equipment. Weapon costs have risen by more than $6 billion in just over a month, from the CBO’s $21.7 billion estimate to CENTCOM’s $28.1 billion figure.
Weapon expenses represent the largest portion of the war budget, accounting for more than half of total costs. The highest demand is for interceptor missiles used to defend against attacks, such as the U.S. Army’s Patriot and THAAD systems.
The U.S. military report submitted to Congress this week covers operational costs for naval vessels, aircraft, and bases, including losses of military equipment and medical support for personnel.
Data from the U.S. Department of Defense indicates that 18 American soldiers have died and over 830 have been wounded, according to the Defense Casualty Analysis System database. However, these figures do not include damage to U.S. bases in the Middle East targeted by Iran with guided missiles and drones.
The U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General's report states that Iranian attacks caused damage and destroyed hundreds of buildings and structures at U.S. bases located in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan.
The latest war cost estimate comes as President Donald Trump's administration pushes a historic $1.5 trillion defense budget proposal and requests an additional $95 billion from Congress to support the Iran war and other security missions.
Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense, said during a speech at Saronic Technologies—a drone manufacturer for the U.S. Navy in Austin, Texas—that the government is seeking approval for a $1.5 trillion budget to make major, long-term defense investments, maintain national strength, and support high-paying jobs in the U.S. manufacturing sector.
Meanwhile, Democratic senators have called on Hegseth to fully disclose the Iran war expenses, criticizing the Department of Defense for withholding basic budget information from Congress and the American public amid rising military casualties and increasing taxpayer burdens.
The extensive use of interceptor missiles has rapidly depleted U.S. weapons stockpiles, raising concerns in Europe. U.S. and NATO officials say interceptor missile supplies are now at a "critical shortage" level.
Saudi Arabia is also facing missile shortages and has turned to regional allies and Western countries for assistance as its conflict with the Houthi movement in Yemen continues to drag on.
Financial costs are only part of the impact of the Iran war. The conflict has also affected oil and stock markets and caused casualties and injuries among U.S. forces.
Politically, the war remains a key issue to watch in the U.S. midterm elections in November, particularly its effects on the Republican Party and the Trump administration amid debates over the war's costs and the national budget burden.
/sourceAssociated Press