Jakarta, ThedailyID — The United States’ war in Iran has cost an estimated US$45.1 billion, or around Rp803.3 trillion, according to figures provided by the Pentagon to Congress.
Two sources familiar with the figures told CNN that the amount includes US$43.6 billion in war costs through September 3. It also includes another US$1.5 billion for additional fuel costs.
The Pentagon’s figure does not represent the full cost of the conflict. It excludes potential costs for repairing damaged US bases and buildings.
The Pentagon also did not provide Congress with a full breakdown of indirect military costs requested by lawmakers. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has also warned that available data limits its ability to produce a single, comprehensive war-cost figure.
In a September 15 report, the CBO estimated that the conflict had cost the US Department of Defense about US$38 billion as of August 1, 2026. The estimate covered expended munitions and equipment, additional flying hours, other operations and increased fuel costs.
The CBO said its different cost estimates cannot be directly added together because they use different data, methods, time periods and levels of uncertainty.
Munitions accounted for a major share of the Pentagon’s costs. According to the figures cited by CNN, replacing munitions used through August 1 was estimated at US$21.7 billion, or around Rp386.5 trillion.
The CBO also estimated that the conflict could continue costing the Pentagon between US$2 billion and US$3 billion per month, depending on the intensity of fighting. Costs could rise further if combat escalates.
The financial impact also extends beyond military spending. The CBO said disruptions to oil and natural gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, along with shipping disruptions in the Red Sea, have pushed energy prices higher.
The agency estimates that higher energy prices could raise US inflation by 0.5 percentage points in the first quarter of 2027 compared with its February 2026 projection.
The CBO also said the conflict is affecting US military resources. One major opportunity cost involves the large number of missile-defense interceptors used during the conflict, which could leave the US with reduced inventories for several years.
Democrats on the House Budget Committee had pushed for greater transparency over the war’s financial impact. Brendan Boyle, the committee’s top Democrat, said the costs were adding to the burden on US taxpayers.
