Washington: The United States has spent close to $25 billion on its ongoing military campaign against Iran since late February, according to senior Pentagon officials, highlighting the rising financial toll of the conflict even as a fragile ceasefire holds.

Acting Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst told lawmakers on Wednesday that the bulk of the spending under “Operation Epic Fury” has gone toward munitions and operational costs tied to sustained airstrikes and military deployments. The campaign began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes targeting Iran’s military infrastructure and leadership.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at the same congressional hearing, offered a slightly lower estimate, saying total costs remain “under $25 billion” so far. He defended the scale of spending amid growing scrutiny from lawmakers concerned about the economic impact of prolonged military engagement.

“The question I would ask this committee is, what is it worth to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon?” Hegseth said, framing the operation as critical to US national security and global stability.

The US-Israel-Iran war has significantly escalated tensions in the Middle East and triggered broader economic concerns, including volatility in global oil markets and increased defense expenditures.

US President Donald Trump recently extended an initial two-week ceasefire indefinitely, pausing active hostilities. However, officials caution that the situation remains unresolved, with diplomatic efforts ongoing and the risk of renewed escalation still present.

Despite the temporary halt in fighting, the financial burden of the military campaign continues to mount, driven by logistics, weapons systems, and regional deployments. Analysts note that sustained operations of this scale could have long-term implications for US defense budgets and foreign policy strategy.

With AFP inputs