Washington Post: U.S. War on Iran Drains Billions of Dollars, Imposing Growing Economic Burdens on American Families

NYN | Reports and Analyses 

The Washington Post revealed the mounting financial toll of the U.S. war on Iran, noting that military operations are draining billions of dollars from the U.S. Treasury, amidst declining stockpiles of advanced weaponry and ammunition alongside damage to several U.S. military bases in the region.

In a report by writer Amy Westfall, the newspaper stated that the U.S. Department of War estimates the direct cost of the war at approximately $37.5 billion through the end of next September, excluding the damages sustained by U.S. military bases and facilities in the region.

Independent Estimates Push War Bill Higher

According to the report, independent think tank estimates place the overall cost of the war between $35.2 billion and $42.5 billion, while the American Enterprise Institute estimated the cost at around $38.6 billion.

Projections indicate that munitions account for the largest share of military spending; a study by expert Mark Cancian estimated the value of used munitions at over $26.1 billion, highlighting the degree of depletion the U.S. arsenal is undergoing during these military operations.

Depletion of “THAAD” and “Tomahawk” Missiles

The newspaper highlighted another dimension of the cost, represented by the consumption of strategic stocks of advanced missiles and munitions.

According to data cited in the report, U.S. forces have fired more than 200 THAAD interceptors—roughly half of the total U.S. stockpile of these missiles—with each interceptor costing approximately $15 million.

U.S. forces also launched over 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles during the first four weeks of the war, at a cost exceeding $2 million per missile, while the expense of replenishing stockpiles and replacing consumed missiles could reach even higher levels.

$67 Billion in Emergency Funding

With military expenditures escalating, the U.S. administration faces pressure to secure additional funding to cover operational costs and rebuild weapon stockpiles.

The Washington Post reported that U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth requested approximately $67 billion in urgent supplemental funding from Congress, covering war expenses as well as the replenishment of weapons and ammunition consumed during operations.

Additionally, the cost of repairing damaged U.S. military bases in the region is estimated at around $5 billion, with data indicating that at least 42 aircraft have been damaged or lost.

War Costs Extend to the U.S. Economy

According to the report, the repercussions of the war are not confined to direct military spending; they extend to the U.S. economy and American households, with a portion of the costs likely spilling over into the federal budget, public spending, and markets.

This data suggests that sustained military operations may compel Washington to allocate further resources to replace consumed weaponry and repair facility damage, adding further strain to U.S. public finances.

Thus, figures on military spending, rearmament, and repairs paint a broader picture of the war’s economic toll, at a time when concerns are mounting that extraordinary military expenditure could become a long-term burden on the American economy and the average family.