The Pentagon revealed this Wednesday that the war against Iran has cost the United States approximately $25 billion since the start of Operation Epic Fury on February 28, according to acting Under Secretary of War for Financial Affairs, Jules Hurst, before the House of Representatives.
"As of today, we are spending approximately 25 billion dollars on Operation 'Epic Fury'. The majority of that amount is for ammunition," Hurst stated during a budget hearing in which Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine also appeared.
According to information from Efe, the official specified that "a portion of that amount is allocated to operational and maintenance expenses, as well as equipment replacement," and reported that the Pentagon will submit a supplemental budget request through the White House to be forwarded to Congress "once they have a complete assessment of the conflict's cost."
This is the first time the Pentagon has provided an official figure on war spending, although previous estimates from analysis centers had already anticipated a cost of that magnitude.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated that the first 100 hours of the conflict cost at least 3.7 billion dollars, equivalent to about 900 million a day, and that by day 12 the total had already reached 16.5 billion.
The AEI Institute estimated a cost ranging from 16.2 billion to 23.4 billion until the ceasefire on April 8, when Trump declared that the strategic military objectives had been achieved.
The operation, launched jointly by the U.S. and Israel, destroyed nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow and degraded 90% of Iran's missile capability, according to the Pentagon.
Hegseth defended the continuation of the operation, arguing that Iran "has not yet abandoned its nuclear ambitions" and downplayed the duration of the conflict by comparing it to previous wars.
"I remind you how long we were in Afghanistan and how long we were in Vietnam. We have only been immersed for two months in an existential struggle for the safety of the American people. Iran cannot possess a nuclear bomb," he stated.
The Secretary of War also lashed out at the legislators who oppose the conflict, whom he called the "greatest adversary" at this moment.
"The greatest challenge, the biggest adversary we face at this moment, is the reckless, ineffective, and defeatist words of the congressional Democrats and some Republicans," criticized Hegseth.
The diplomatic context is one of stalled negotiations. Trump urged Iran on Wednesday to "wake up soon" after rejecting an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without addressing the nuclear issue.
Since April 13, the U.S. has maintained a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz with over 12 ships, 100 aircraft, and 10,000 personnel, a pressure that costs Iran between 435 and 500 million dollars daily in trade losses.
U.S. casualties in Operation Epic Fury amount to between 13 and 14 soldiers killed and more than 380 injured, according to data from Central Command (CENTCOM).
The budget for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2027, presented at the same hearing, amounts to 1.5 trillion dollars and includes a 7% pay increase for lower-ranking soldiers, compared to the historic trillion approved for fiscal year 2026.
The Pentagon still does not have a definitive assessment of the total cost of the conflict, and the final amount could increase as negotiations with Tehran progress —or become prolonged—.
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