"US Spends $45.1 Billion on Iran War, Excluding Base Restoration Costs"

CNN Cites Sources in Report

The United States has spent as much as $45.1 billion on the war with Iran. However, some experts have noted that this estimate does not include the cost of repairing U.S. military bases and buildings damaged by the war, meaning the actual burden could be even greater.

U.S. President Donald Trump is speaking about healthcare policy in the Oval Office at the White House on the 18th (local time). Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

CNN reported on the 18th (local time), citing multiple sources, that the U.S. Department of Defense informed Congress that as of September 3, the cost of the war was $43.6 billion, with an additional $1.5 billion in fuel expenses.

One source stated that the current estimate does not include the cost of restoring damaged bases and buildings, nor does it provide a detailed breakdown for the indirect costs of military operations requested by lawmakers.

This amount is significantly higher than the $38 billion estimated by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) for the war costs as of August 1. According to the CBO, most of the costs at that time were driven by ammunition use, equipment losses, increased flight time, operations, and fuel expenses.

The CBO had previously estimated that if hostilities continued at a relatively low level, about $2 billion would be added each month. If the intensity matched the level seen in July, monthly expenses could reach $3 billion. The CBO also noted that costs would increase further if combat operations intensified.

There are also projections that a prolonged war may put additional pressure on U.S. prices. The CBO predicted that as a result of the war with Iran and the resulting rise in energy prices, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) inflation rate in the first quarter of 2027 would be 0.5 percentage points higher than previously forecast. The core PCE inflation rate was also forecast to increase by 0.3 percentage points.

The United States, along with Israel, launched airstrikes against Iran on February 28, marking the start of the war. Since then, nearly seven months have passed as the conflict has continued through periods of ceasefire and resumed hostilities.

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