(José Niño, Headline USA) The American war against Iran has cost about $38 billion and placed mounting pressure on crucial weapons inventories. A Financial Times report cited new assessments from the Congressional Budget Office and the Pentagon inspector general that detail the financial and military burden of the conflict.
The CBO calculated that operations had cost the Defense Department approximately $38 billion through August 1. That figure covers ammunition replacement, lost equipment, additional flight hours, logistics, and higher fuel consumption. Replacing fired weapons would cost $21.7 billion, including $13.1 billion for missile defense interceptors and $7.3 billion for land attack cruise missiles.
According to the Financial Times, Pentagon acquisition officials acknowledged that the “munitions expenditure” during the conflict “has resulted in strategic inventory shortfalls and revealed industrial base bottlenecks for munitions resupply.”
Manufacturers face shortages of solid rocket motors, high grade explosives, propellants, and skilled labor. Officials cautioned that expanding output would require “significant lead times”. The Pentagon assessment also said weapons consumption “illustrate the magnitude and complexity of the target set posed by Iran.”
Those conclusions conflict with assurances from Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that American inventories remain adequate. The CBO estimated that replenishing certain missile defense systems could take at least five years even if manufacturers increase production.
The fiscal burden will continue growing if the fighting persists. The CBO projected that another month of operations could add between $2 billion and $3 billion. It also found that the conflict could lift inflation by 0.5 percentage points during the first quarter of 2027, a timeline confirmed by both the CBO analysis and subsequent reporting.
The White House has requested more than $67 billion in additional Pentagon funding, including $21 billion for weapons replacement, according to the Financial Times. That request would cover only part of the broader damage to equipment, installations, and diplomatic properties.
General Kenneth Wilsbach described Iran as a difficult opponent. He said “it wasn’t easy” to “decimate” the Iranian air force and conventional navy. “Iran’s not a pushover,” he added.
The inspector general counted 22 damaged or destroyed airplanes and helicopters, including fighters and refueling aircraft. As many as 30 MQ 9 Reaper drones also suffered damage or destruction. Iranian attacks struck hundreds of structures at American bases in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Diplomatic compounds in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates sustained about $184 million in damage.
Iranian drones and cruise missiles also hit the Navy headquarters in Bahrain. The damage forced the service to rely on more distant facilities, including Diego Garcia, extending logistics cycles to between 14 and 18 days. “They blew the hell out of Bahrain,” acting Navy secretary Hung Cao said.
José Niño is the deputy editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/JoseAlNino
