The US military has spent more than $47 billion so far on the war with Iran, according to Pentagon figures that have not been made public. According to sources, the total is more than 25% above the $37.5 billion estimate Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth gave in July. The Pentagon did not immediately comment.
The figures project more than $29 billion to replace munitions used in the conflict and over $6 billion to replace lost equipment and aircraft, including many drones. They do not clearly include the cost of repairing US bases damaged by Iranian missile and drone attacks.
President Donald Trump launched the war jointly with Israel in February, predicting it would be short. An April ceasefire gave Iran time to dig out underground sites and bring some defences, missiles and drones back into use. Washington has since imposed a naval blockade to cut Iran's oil revenue, and US officials say the Pentagon has been planning to restart heavy fighting if ordered.
The disclosure comes as Republicans wrestle with the political fallout of the unpopular war ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Higher energy prices have hurt Trump's approval ratings, and his party holds only narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress.