US spends funds equivalent to Rp500 trillion on military operations in Iran

Washington (ANTARA) - The United States government has spent nearly $29 billion on military operations against Iran, said Deputy Undersecretary of Defense and Comptroller Jules W. Hurst III on Tuesday (12/5).

That amount is equivalent to approximately Rp507 trillion at an exchange rate of 17,500 per US dollar.

“In the previous testimony, the amount was $25 billion. However, the joint staff and budget oversight team continue to update that estimate, and now we estimate it is approaching $29 billion. This is due to repair and replacement costs for equipment, as well as general operational costs to keep forces in the field,” Hurst said during the hearing of the US House Defense Budget Committee.

The conflict between the US and Iran erupted on 28 February, when Washington, along with Israel, launched airstrikes against targets in Iran, causing significant damage and civilian casualties.

Iran then carried out retaliatory strikes, triggering an escalation that nearly halted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz — a vital route for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

As a result, energy prices have surged sharply, adding pressure to the global economy.

Since then, the Trump administration has expanded military operations on the grounds of maintaining regional security and curbing Iran’s capabilities.

Washington has also asserted that the operations aim to weaken Tehran’s military and economic capacity.

Hurst emphasised that the costs of the operations continue to rise as the conflict drags on.

The US government now faces significant fiscal challenges, while Congress demands transparency regarding the use of the defence budget.

Source: Sputnik/RIA Novosti