Trump’s Iran War Bill Soars to Rp799 Trillion
The cost to the United States of waging war against Iran has exceeded US$47 billion (about Rp799 trillion). That is more than 25% higher than the estimate made by the US Department of Defence, or Pentagon, in July.
Reuters reported on Wednesday (28 October 2026) that data obtained from the Pentagon showed the figure covers operational costs, replacement of munitions used and replacement of military equipment and platforms lost during the conflict. The Pentagon has not published the updated estimate.
More than US$29 billion (about Rp493 trillion) of the estimated total is needed to replace munitions used in the war. A further US$6 billion (about Rp102 trillion) is required to replace lost military equipment and assets, including aircraft and a large number of drones.
The new estimate is higher than US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s statement in July, when he put the cost of the war at US$37.5 billion (about Rp637.5 trillion). The Pentagon’s estimate does not clearly account for the substantial costs expected to repair US military bases damaged by Iranian missile and drone attacks.
The Iran war weighs on US politics
The rising cost of the war comes as the Republican Party faces political pressure ahead of the midterm elections on 3 November. The vote will determine which party controls the US Congress for the following two years.
The Republicans, led by President Donald Trump, currently hold only narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress. The war’s impact on global energy prices has also weighed on support for Republican candidates and dented Trump’s approval rating.
Trump launched the war against Iran alongside Israel in February 2026, expecting the conflict to be brief.
The US military’s initial strategy focused on using expensive, high-tech precision missiles to destroy Iran’s defences. It then planned to use cheaper munitions, including gravity bombs such as JDAMs launched from aircraft.
However, the April ceasefire gave Iran time to excavate underground storage facilities. Some Iranian defence systems, missiles and drones that had previously been inaccessible were brought back into operation.
US blockade of Iran raises risk of renewed war
After the ceasefire, Trump imposed a naval blockade on Iran to put pressure on its revenues from oil exports. He has also raised the possibility of resuming combat operations after the midterm elections.
US officials speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity said the Pentagon had prepared for the possibility of major fighting resuming if ordered. The cost of the war could continue to climb if the conflict escalates again.
Beyond operational expenses, the large-scale use of munitions and the loss of military assets are adding to the US defence budget burden. With the latest estimate exceeding US$47 billion, the Iran war’s cost has become one of the economic and political challenges facing the Trump administration ahead of congressional elections.