What Would the Iran War Cost the US? These Are the Estimates and the Challenges

The long confrontation between the United States and Iran entered a new phase on Saturday when joint US–Israel air strikes targeted Iran, signalling the opening of direct military hostilities. As US President Donald Trump indicated the operation could last four to five weeks, questions arose over whether Washington could sustain a new war in the Middle East and what the eventual costs would be.

What Is Operation Epic Fury?

According to Aljazirah, on Wednesday (4 March 2026), on 28 February 2026, Trump, in an eight-minute video on Truth Social, confirmed that the US had taken part in what he called a ‘major combat operation’ inside Iranian territory.

The Pentagon subsequently stated that the mission had been named Operation Epic Fury.

Trump said the aim of the operation was to ‘ensure that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.’

‘We will destroy their missiles and level their defence industry to the ground. It will be completely obliterated,’ he said.

The US military stated it had attacked more than 1,250 targets in Iran since the operation began on Saturday. In a separate statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had attacked and destroyed 11 Iranian ships.

The operation reportedly involved air strikes, sea-launched cruise missiles, and coordinated strikes against nuclear-related facilities and a number of senior officials connected with Iran’s defence apparatus.