The United States and Israel’s war against Iran, which began on February 28, has increasingly become a financial burden for American taxpayers as the conflict continues.
According to a report by The National News, the United States spent over $3.7 billion during the first 100 hours of the war, which averages roughly $891.4 million per day. The early cost reflects the heavy use of advanced weapons, missile defense systems, and large-scale military deployments in the region.
A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found that most of these expenses were not originally included in the U.S. defense budget. Out of the $3.7 billion spent during the opening phase of the war, about $3.5 billion was unbudgeted, meaning the Pentagon may need to request additional funding from Congress to cover the costs.
The budgeted costs include “operational costs, approximately $196m, with $178m budgeted.
Researchers Mark Cancian and Chris Park from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said only a small portion of the estimated $3.7 billion spent during the first hours of the war had already been budgeted, while the majority of the costs, about $3.5 billion, were not included in the original budget.
After a closed-door meeting in Washington, the Republicans are making an effort to discover the exact price tag of the US-Iran conflict just days after it began. This, according to Politico reports, involves a significant increase in the consumption of expensive munitions and a lack of a war end date.
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Additionally, the majority of US Republicans have already aired out their concerns, privately, about the war, revealing their fear that the Pentagon is spending close to $2bn a day on the war.
Asked directly how much the Iran would cost, House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) didn’t sugarcoat it. “A lot,” he replied.
What Is the U.S. Spending Taxpayers’ Money On?
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) analysis on the United States expenditure on the war, 2,000 munitions of various types in the first 100 hours costed $3.1bn. This was to replenish the munitions inventory on a like-for-like basis, with the costs increasing by $758.1m a day.
A former UK military official who spoke to Al Jazeera said the cost of one missile, including production, transport, and manpower, is at least $2m.
Meanwhile, CNN reports that some of the most expensive military assets involved in the operation incur high daily operating costs. Air assets are among the priciest, with tanker and cargo aircraft costing about $9 million per day, while both carrier air wings, non-stealth fighters, and stealth fighters each cost roughly $5 million daily to operate.
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Naval assets also add significantly to the bill, with an aircraft carrier costing around $6 million per day and a destroyer about $5 million per day.
On the ground, expenses are comparatively lower: an artillery brigade costs about $1 million per day, while a National Guard battalion costs less than $1 million per day to maintain in operations.
Food, Fuel, and Holiday Prices for Households to Increase, Expert Warns
Americans now face the prospect of higher prices for household items as a result of the US‑Iran conflict, with experts warning that energy costs, especially fuel, could spike, pushing up the price of everyday goods.
According to the Federal Reserve of St. Louis’ FRED Blog, gasoline prices react unevenly to changes in oil prices. When oil prices surge, gas prices rise quickly, but when oil prices fall, gas prices decline slowly.
Data from GasBuddy, a site tracking U.S. gas prices, shows the national average has jumped 51.1 cents over the past week to $3.45 per gallon. Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, said this sharp increase follows U.S. strikes on Iran and the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which pushed oil above $100 per barrel for the first time in years.
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He warned that gasoline prices could rise another 20 to 50 cents per gallon this week. De Haan added that ongoing tensions in the Middle East are likely to remain the main driver of oil prices, keeping crude elevated or pushing it higher if the conflict escalates further.
GasBuddy reported that the national average price of gasoline in the U.S. has increased by 51 cents per gallon over the past week.
“Yes, yes, definitely,” said 52-year-old Alma Newell when asked if she was concerned about rising fuel costs at a gas station in Goleta, California, a coastal city.
