US Iran War Cost Hits $43.6 Billion as Missile Spending Surges

The latest figure represents an increase from the $38 billion estimated by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) as of August 1. The CBO said the conflict could continue to cost the United States about $3 billion each month while hostilities continue. Its report was released on Tuesday, September 15.

The latest military estimate also shows how quickly spending on weapons and ammunition has increased. The amount spent on munitions rose by more than $6 billion in just over a month, from $21.7 billion in the CBO's estimate to $28.1 billion in the US Central Command estimate.

A one-page report submitted to Congress includes the costs of operating warships, aircraft and military bases, along with losses of military equipment and medical support for troops. As of September 3, Central Command estimated about .2 billion in incremental operational costs, .1 billion to replace expended munitions and about .3 billion to replace equipment losses.

According to Pentagon casualty figures from the Defense Casualty Analysis System, 18 American personnel have been killed and more than 830 have been wounded during the conflict.

The latest estimate does not include damage caused to US military bases in the Middle East by Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Iranian strikes have damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings and other structures at US facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan.

The CBO's August 1 estimate covered the Department of Defense's operational, logistical and sustainment costs, including the replacement of expended munitions and equipment lost in battle, increased flying hours, other operations and higher fuel costs.

The financial impact of the war extends beyond direct military spending. The conflict has affected oil prices and the stock market, while its political consequences are expected to be reflected in the November midterm congressional elections. Reports have described the war's growing unpopularity as a challenge for Republicans.

Weapons and ammunition now account for more than half of the total military cost in the latest estimate. The weapons facing the highest demand are defensive missile interceptors, including those launched by the US Army's Patriot and THAAD systems.

With the latest estimate putting the US military cost of the Iran conflict at $43.6 billion by September 3, the rising use of expensive munitions and the continuing cost of military operations have become a central measure of the conflict's expanding financial burden.