US Defence Secretary says war with Iran has cost $37.5 billion

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated that the war against Iran has cost 37.5 billion US dollars so far, according to the latest Pentagon estimates. Speaking during a Senate budget hearing on Tuesday (21/7), Hegseth stressed the urgent need for additional funding as the Trump administration seeks Congressional approval for a 1.5 trillion US dollar defence budget. “Without such funding, we face a critical shortfall,” Hegseth warned. The updated cost estimate marks a significant increase from June, when White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought told lawmakers the conflict had cost American taxpayers around 30 billion US dollars. Hegseth was also pressed on reports that the Pentagon had delayed disclosing the number of US military casualties, with officials now confirming that nearly 100 American soldiers have been wounded in recent fighting with Iran since 7 July.