Concerns Over a Prolonged War and How Much the U.S. Is Spending to Fight Iran?

WASHINGTON — The United States spent around $779 million in the first 24 hours of its attack on Iran, which began on Saturday morning, 28 March 2026, according to Anadolu Agency. Separately, estimates published by The Wall Street Journal suggest that the mobilisation preceding the war—including aircraft repositioning and the deployment of more than 12 warships in the region—cost about $630 million. Although it is difficult to forecast the total ongoing cost of military operations to determine the scale of American losses, data points indicate substantial daily expenses as the war against Iran enters its fourth day. The Center for a New American Security estimates the cost of operating a carrier strike group, such as the USS Gerald Ford, at around $6.5 million per day. There have also been reported losses of equipment, for example, at least three U.S. combat aircraft were downed in Kuwait on Monday. A Times report concluded that the war is extremely expensive, even with the United States’ defence budget of $1 trillion for 2026.