Pentagon data shows Iran war bill has reached $47.2 billion

The United States has spent more than 47 billion dollars to prosecute the war in Iran, according to Pentagon data obtained by Reuters. The total is more than 25 percent higher than the Defense Department's estimate provided in July.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the updated figure. The department had not previously shared the July estimate with the public.

The new cost disclosure arrives as Republicans grapple with the political fallout of the conflict. The war is unpopular with voters, and its impact on global energy costs has weighed on Republican candidates. President Donald Trump's approval ratings have also dropped in response to the conflict. The Republican Party currently holds a narrow majority in both chambers of Congress.

The 47 billion dollar figure covers operational costs of the war. It does not include a projected 29 billion dollars needed to replace expended munitions. An additional 6 billion dollars would be required to replace military equipment and platform losses, which include aircraft and numerous drones lost during operations.

President Trump launched the war jointly with Israel in February. He predicted the conflict would be short. His initial strategy focused on using expensive precision missiles to degrade Iran's defenses before switching to cheaper munitions such as air-launched JDAMs.

An April ceasefire allowed Iran to repair its defenses. The country dug out underground storage facilities and brought back online missiles and drones that had previously been inaccessible. Trump has since imposed a naval blockade to cut Iran's oil export revenue. He has indicated that combat operations could restart after the November 3 elections. US officials speaking on condition of anonymity said the Pentagon is planning to resume heavy fighting if ordered to do so.

The current estimate is compared to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's July projection of 37.5 billion dollars. The Pentagon's figures account for flight operations and cyber support, but they do not clearly include the cost to repair damage to US bases from Iranian missile and drone attacks.