Kamal Ghorui
The financial and human cost of the United States’ involvement in the Iran conflict is mounting rapidly, with early estimates pointing to tens of billions already spent.Data tracked by Iran Cost Ticker suggests US expenditure has crossed $35 billion since the strikes began, with roughly $11.3 billion spent in the first six days alone and costs continuing at about $1 billion per day. That translates to tens of thousands of dollars every second, underlining the scale of the ongoing military commitment even without a full-scale ground invasion.Beyond operational spending, the damage to US military assets has been significant. A report by The Wall Street Journal estimates losses and repair costs between $1.4 billion and $2.9 billion within the first three weeks, largely due to Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting American and allied infrastructure across the Middle East.High-value equipment losses have driven much of the cost. Three F-15E fighter jets, each worth around $100 million, were mistakenly shot down in a friendly fire incident, while an F-35A—valued at over $80 million—was forced into an emergency landing after reportedly coming under threat. Aerial refuelling capabilities have also been hit, with a deadly mid-air collision involving a KC-135 tanker and further damage to multiple aircraft in missile strikes.Unmanned systems have not been spared. More than a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones, costing up to $30 million each in newer variants, have been destroyed either in the air or on the ground. Meanwhile, critical radar and missile defence systems—some valued at hundreds of millions or even $1 billion—have been damaged in strikes across the region.The human toll is also rising. At least 13 US service members have been killed and 200 wounded, while Iranian casualties run into thousands, including military personnel and civilians.US President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns over rising global prices, warning that Washington could escalate further by targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure if Tehran does not agree to a deal. Such threats have already rattled energy markets, with oil prices surging sharply and analysts warning they could spike to historic highs if the conflict widens.
