US war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far, says Pentagon official

WASHINGTON, - The United States' war in Iran has cost $25 billion so ​far, a senior Pentagon official ​said on Wednesday, providing the first official estimate of ​the military's price tag for the conflict.

With just six months before mid-term elections in which Trump's Republicans may face an uphill battle to keep their House majority, Democrats are ‌riding high in ⁠public ⁠opinion polls as they attempt to link the unpopular Iran war with affordability.

Jules Hurst, who ​is performing the duties of the comptroller, told lawmakers on the House Armed Services ​Committee that most of that money was for munitions.


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Hurst did not detail what that cost estimate included and whether it took into account the projected ​costs of rebuilding and repairing base infrastructure in ⁠the Middle ‌East damaged in the conflict.

Rep. Adam Smith, the top ​Democrat on the ​House Armed Services Committee, responded to Hurst: "I'm glad you ⁠answered that question. Because we've been asking for a ​hell of a long time, and no one's given ​us the number."

The United States started carrying out strikes against Iran on Feb.28 and the two sides are currently maintaining a fragile ceasefire. The Pentagon has poured tens of thousands of additional forces into the Middle East, including keeping three aircraft carriers in the region.

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Thirteen U.S. troops have been ‌killed in the conflict and hundreds wounded.

Disruptions in shipments of oil and natural gas since the war started have caused ​a run-up in ​U.S. gasoline prices ⁠and agricultural products such as fertilizers, on top of the long list of other high consumer prices.

Trump's popularity has taken a beating since the U.S. and ​Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28 that has led to a surge in gasoline prices.

Just 34% of Americans approve of the U.S. conflict with Iran, down from 36% in mid-April and 38% in mid-March, a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found.