The United States’ war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far, a senior Pentagon official said, providing the first official estimate of the cost of the conflict.
Most of the funds were spent on ammunition, Jules Hurst, acting comptroller, told the House Armed Services Committee, Reuters reports.
Democrats, who are seeing a surge in polls ahead of November’s congressional elections, are trying to link the unpopular war with the issue of fiscal sustainability.
– I’m glad you gave that number, because we’ve been looking for an answer for a long time – said Democratic Representative Adam Smith.
The $25 billion estimate is equal to this year’s NASA budget, but it remains unclear how the Pentagon arrived at that figure, given an earlier estimate that the first six days of the war cost at least $11.3 billion.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the costs, arguing they were justified by the goal of keeping Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
– How much would you pay if Iran did not get a nuclear bomb? – he asked the representatives.
In his address, he accused the Democrats of being irresponsible for criticizing the conflict.
(Vijesti.ba/Fena)
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