Iran Says Pentagon Understates War Cost, Puts US Losses at $100 Billion Over Netanyahu ‘Gamble’

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed on May 1 that the Pentagon had understated the cost of the war with Iran.

Araghchi, who is also part of Iran’s delegation for negotiations to end the war with the US, wrote on X that “the Pentagon is lying.”

The US has incurred losses of $100 billion so far because of “Netanyahu’s gamble,” he wrote, adding that the figure was four times the amount cited by the Pentagon.

On April 29, Jay Hurst, a Pentagon financial auditor, testified before the House Armed Services Committee that $25 billion had been spent on the Iran war that began on Feb. 28, with most of the money going to munitions.

Araghchi also said the indirect burden on US taxpayers was far greater. The monthly tax burden has reached $500 per household and is rising quickly, he wrote, adding that “Israel first” always leaves the US in second place.

Iran has argued that President Donald Trump was drawn into the war after being persuaded by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s push for military action.

CNN previously reported that the Pentagon’s $25 billion estimate did not include repair costs for damage to US military bases in the Middle East. Including those costs, the actual amount spent on the war could total $40 billion to $50 billion.

Go Jeong-sam, Hankyung.com reporter, jsk@hankyung.com