The war with Iran is imposing a massive strain on the US economy, with daily costs estimated at around $1 billion, sparking widespread concern among lawmakers and the public over the escalating financial burden of the conflict.
The Trump administration is incurring approximately $1 billion a day in operational costs simply to sustain pressure on Tehran, as the war spills over into neighbouring countries. Furthermore, the United States’ air and naval campaign has already expended ammunition stocks valued at $50 billion since the outbreak of the war with Iran.
According to a recent Pentagon report, an additional supplemental budget of around $50 billion is required to replenish missile and air defence systems’ stockpiles, merely to maintain pressure on Tehran, let alone secure victory or compel Tehran to compromise.
These operational costs have sent shockwaves through political circles in Washington, as Iranian forces stretch US armed forces across multi-domain operations—a level of strain not seen since the US invasion of Iraq.
In its supplemental budget request, the Pentagon has included provisions to replace Tomahawk, THAAD, and Patriot missiles expended in the first seven days of the war, along with other equipment damaged or worn out due to the military’s high burn rate.
The US Congress remains deeply divided over the Trump administration’s decision to launch the war against Iran, with almost 47 per cent of lawmakers voting against continued operations in a recent Senate measure on Thursday, while various polls indicate that around 60 per cent of the US public opposes the war with Iran.
Pressure is mounting on the Trump administration after key figures, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, failed to provide clear and consistent justifications for launching the attack on Iran.
Democrats have accused the Trump administration of initiating the war at Israel’s behest, without adequately considering the consequences for the wider region and global trade.
On Friday, Qatar’s energy minister, Saad al-Kaabi, warned that even if the war ended immediately, it would take Qatar “weeks to months” to resume a normal cycle of LNG deliveries.
In an interview aired on Friday, he cautioned that the war could “bring down the economies of the world”, predicting that all Gulf energy exporters might halt production within weeks, driving oil prices to $150 a barrel.
Also read: US stock market closes in red due to Middle East conflict
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