US defence secretary reports $37.5bn Iran war cost as strikes continue
Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth testified to US senators that military operations against Iran have reached $37.5bn, while President Donald Trump escalated rhetoric with threats against energy infrastructure and a deep-underground facility.
The United States has conducted bombing strikes on Iran for an eleventh consecutive night, marking a sustained escalation in hostilities following the collapse of a ceasefire memorandum that had halted attacks since 17 June. The renewed offensive, which resumed on 7 July, has drawn significant financial and human costs, according to recent disclosures from the Pentagon.
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth reported to US senators that the conflict has cost $37.5bn to date. This figure represents a substantial increase from the nearly $29bn estimated in mid-May, underscoring the rapid acceleration of military expenditure as operations continue. Hegseth’s testimony provided the first official confirmation of the rising fiscal burden of the campaign.
President Donald Trump has intensified threats against Iranian targets, warning that the United States was “not finished” with its attacks. Trump specifically threatened to heavily bomb a suspected deep-underground nuclear facility known as Pickaxe Mountain, alongside Iranian energy plants and bridges. He also indicated the potential deployment of ground forces to seize Kharg Island, a critical node for Iran’s oil exports.
The human toll of the resumption of hostilities has been significant. The Pentagon reported that 17 US service members have been killed and nearly 100 wounded since the conflict restarted on 7 July. Additionally, recent strikes have targeted infrastructure in Kuwait and Bahrain, indicating a widening of the conflict’s immediate geographic impact.
Trump warned that Iran would require 20 to 25 years to recover from the damage inflicted during the conflict, a projection he presented as a political reality rather than an independent economic assessment. Regional tensions have further widened, with Iranian forces launching strikes on several Gulf states and Houthi allies threatening to blockade Saudi ports. Meanwhile, Trump has pledged support to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun for efforts to de-escalate tensions in Lebanon.
