U.S. Spends $37.5 Billion on Iran War, Seeks Additional Funding

Darwin, 22 July : The latest round of U.S. military strikes on Iran has entered its 11th day. Since the conflict resumed in late February, the United States has spent approximately $37.5 billion on the war, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday (local time). He also stated that additional funding is needed to continue military operations in the Middle East.

According to reports published on Wednesday (July 22) by the BBC, Reuters, and other international media outlets, Hegseth appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee for the first time since the fighting resumed. During the hearing, he said the war with Iran had already cost $37.5 billion, about $8 billion more than the estimate released in May.

The Defense Secretary also stressed that Congress must urgently approve additional funding to ensure military training programs continue without disruption.

Hegseth has requested an additional $87 billion in funding for the Department of Defense. Of that amount, $67 billion would be allocated to military operations in the Middle East.

The Senate Appropriations Committee hearing was interrupted several times by anti-war protesters, who chanted, “Stop bombing our children in Iran and Palestine.”

Responding to the disruptions, Hegseth said the additional funding was urgently needed, arguing that significant investment was essential to keep the United States ahead of its adversaries.

“We will face serious challenges without this funding,” Hegseth said. “It would threaten our ability to pay service members, rapidly procure weapons, replenish ammunition stockpiles, and sustain critical military operations.”

He added that every dollar appropriated by Congress would be used to strengthen the U.S. military’s combat capability and promote “peace through strength.”

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins, a Republican, asked what the consequences would be if Congress failed to approve the requested funds.

In response, Hegseth said the Pentagon would have to scale back both current and future military training activities. He also criticized the administration of former President Joe Biden, claiming it had failed to provide sufficient defense funding.

The committee’s top Democrat, Senator Patty Murray, opposed the request for additional funding, calling it “unreasonable” and accusing the Trump administration of trying to bypass the normal budget process.

Earlier this year, in April, the White House requested $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon’s budget for the next fiscal year. If approved, it would represent the highest level of U.S. military spending in modern history.

On Tuesday, the United States carried out strikes on multiple targets in Iran for the 11th consecutive day. Iran has continued retaliatory attacks against U.S. and allied targets across the Middle East.

In a statement, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iran had attacked more than 30 commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The statement added that these “unprovoked attacks” had endangered the lives of hundreds of innocent sailors and undermined the principle of freedom of navigation on international sea routes.