Pentagon’s $25 billion cost estimate for Iran war is low and does not include cost of rebuilding US bases, sources say
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- A Pentagon official estimated the total cost of the Iran war at $25 billion, but sources suggest the real figure could be $40-50 billion when including repairs to US bases damaged by Iranian strikes.
- Iranian attacks early in the conflict heavily damaged at least nine US military sites across Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, UAE, and Qatar, destroying critical radar systems and an Air Force E-3 Sentry aircraft.
- The $25 billion figure mostly covers munitions costs and does not account for base repairs, which remain unfinalized as the Pentagon assesses reconstruction plans and potential partner contributions.
- Lawmakers, including Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, expressed skepticism about the Pentagon’s cost estimate, noting previous reports of $11 billion spent in just the first six days and a recent $200 billion funding request for ongoing operations.
- The Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion budget request for fiscal year 2027, which includes a 42% funding increase, currently excludes costs for repairing war-damaged installations as assessments and reconstruction decisions are still underway.
