Pentagon puts the cost of Trump's Iran war at $47 billion, a quarter higher than Hegseth's July estimate

The $47.1 billion figure — compiled by US Central Command as of 16 October and shared with Congress — is more than 25% above the $37.5 billion estimate Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth gave lawmakers just three months ago, with an additional $3.5 billion racked up in roughly six weeks alone. Munitions account for over 60% of total costs, with $29 billion needed to replace bombs and missiles, depleting global stockpiles of critical weapons including Patriot air-defence interceptors. The bill does not yet include damage to US military bases across the Middle East, targeted repeatedly by Iranian drones and missiles.

Now in its NINTH MONTH, the Iran war has left a $2,000 burden on the typical American household, according to Moody's Analytics.

Trump told a rally in Corpus Christi on Tuesday that the conflict 'will end very soon', but has threatened to restart hostilities unless Iran agrees a deal after the 3 November midterm elections.

Republicans face fierce political headwinds: the war's effect on energy prices worldwide has eroded Trump's approval ratings and is dragging on the party's candidates ahead of an election that will decide control of Congress.