CENTCOM: Iran Conflict Has Cost U.S. Military Over $47 Billion

U.S. Central Command has calculated that the war with Iran has cost the military at least $47.1 billion as of mid-October. The estimate, shared with lawmakers, details the financial burden of the conflict as it enters its ninth month.

The largest portion of the expenditure is the replacement of expended munitions, which CENTCOM valued at approximately $29 billion. An additional $6.1 billion covers the replacement of lost equipment, while $11.9 billion addresses incremental costs such as support for American service members. These figures do not include the repair costs for U.S. military bases in the Middle East that were damaged by Iranian drones and missiles.

This new tally exceeds the $37.5 billion figure previously cited by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Congressional Budget Office projects the war could cost between $2 billion and $3 billion per month for as long as it continues. Interceptor missiles, necessary to defend against Iranian attacks, drive much of that monthly expense. The CBO notes that costs may rise during tit-for-tat exchanges, which were frequent during the summer but have remained quiet in recent weeks.

President Donald Trump indicated that hostilities might resume after the midterm elections next month unless a deal is reached. During a rally in Florida last week, he told supporters, "We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree."

The Pentagon's inspector general reported that the U.S. is facing strategic inventory shortfalls due to the volume of munitions used. The Defense Department is working to speed up production in response. The Trump administration has pushed back against the idea of shortages. In early September, President Trump stated that the military has virtually unlimited amounts of mid to high grade ammunition, far more than the service could ever use.

The administration requested tens of billions of dollars in supplemental military funding from Congress earlier this year, partly to address the war's costs. That request has not yet passed. Democrats have pressed Secretary Hegseth for a more detailed accounting of the expenses. CBS News contacted the Pentagon for comment on the new estimate.