Iran war has cost on average $246M per day in its first five months

The U.S. warfare pinch Iran costs the Pentagon an estimated $38.1 cardinal done Aug. 1 and could costs different $2 cardinal to $3 cardinal for each further period of fighting, according to a report released Tuesday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

More than half of the costs came from replacing missiles and different munitions utilized during the conflict. Increased flying hours costs different $10.4 billion, while higher substance prices added $2.7 billion, CBO estimated. The warfare has led substance prices astir the world to emergence since President Donald Trump launched it Feb. 28.

The warfare has besides consumed arsenic overmuch arsenic two-thirds of the nation's missile-defense interceptors since June 2025, mostly arsenic consequence of the U.S. helping take sides Israel against Iranian attacks, leaving the U.S. pinch reduced inventories for respective years, CBO warned.

"Rebuilding DoD's inventory of interceptors would astir apt return astatine slightest 5 years — moreover if accumulation was increased," CBO said successful the report, which Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., requested. He is the apical Democrat connected the House Budget Committee.

The CBO estimates travel the first broad accounting of the war's costs and subject toll, released precocious Monday by the Defense Department's inspector general. The 2 accountings came to akin conclusions.

The merchandise of the caller calculations could substance statement complete whether the costs of the war, which Trump initially said would past only weeks, is worthy it. Democrats are campaigning against the warfare up of the Nov. 3 U.S. predetermination and pointing to higher costs for fuel, nutrient and different things linked pinch the conflict, which Trump has framed arsenic preventing Iran from processing atomic weapons.

The shortage of missiles could go "especially problematic" successful a conflict pinch an adversary possessing ample numbers of ballistic and cruise missiles, CBO said, specifically citing China and a imaginable conflict complete Taiwan.

The warfare has besides raised user prices by reducing lipid and earthy state shipments done the Strait of Hormuz and disrupting Red Sea shipping.

CBO estimated that by the first 4th of 2027, the warfare will person raised year-over-year inflation, arsenic measured by the individual depletion expenditures value scale — which is the Federal Reserve's preferred ostentation measure — by 0.5 percent points. Core PCE inflation is expected to beryllium 0.3 points higher arsenic power costs ripple done proviso chains, CBO said. 

"The value of almost each merchandise reflects shipping costs," CBO said.

By early 2027, gasoline and different fuels will relationship for astir 40% of the war's effect connected user prices, CBO said.

U.S. crude topped $106 Tuesday and Brent roseate supra $109 aft Saudi Arabia reportedly canceled shipments pursuing the closure of a awesome pipeline that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, regular gasoline averaged astir $4.33 per gallon nationally, up almost 18 cents from a week earlier and $1.15 from a twelvemonth ago, according to AAA.

The Pentagon estimated that the war had costs $33.4 billion arsenic of June 29: $7.4 cardinal successful incremental operating costs, $22.3 cardinal to switch expended munitions and $3.7 cardinal successful instrumentality losses.

The gait of weapons usage created "strategic inventory shortfalls," the Defense Department watchdog said. Shortages of coagulated rocket motors, explosives, propellants and skilled workers person analyzable efforts to replenish U.S. stockpiles.

Iranian strikes besides damaged aliases destroyed "hundreds of buildings and structures" astatine bases crossed 8 Middle Eastern countries, according to Monday's DOD IG report. Dozens of craft were damaged aliases destroyed, including 4 F-15E combatant jets, an F-35A, 7 KC-135 refueling aircraft, 7 helicopters and much than 30 drones.

The F-35A costs arsenic overmuch as $92 cardinal per plane, while the F-15E, which is nary longer produced, costs $31.1 cardinal successful 1998, according to the U.S. Air Force.

The Pentagon study noted State Department costs of $79.2 cardinal for evacuations and different contingencies for group from the region erstwhile the warfare ban. And it calculated $184 cardinal successful negotiated tract harm crossed Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The Defense Department did not supply estimates for rebuilding plans and backing sources for damaged subject bases.