From the Guardian · · 1m 40s
Iran war drains US missiles and money
A CBO report puts the Iran war’s US cost at $38bn, with missile stocks strained and inflation pushed higher.
In brief
A CBO report puts the Iran war’s US cost at $38bn, with missile stocks strained and inflation pushed higher. The war’s bill is not just current spending. It has cut into US air defense reserves, raised prices and left repair costs unknown. Originally reported by the Guardian.
The bill hit $38bn
The CBO estimates the Iran war has cost the US at least $38bn, with the total rising by about $3bn for each extra month of fighting.
“cost would grow $3bn for every additional month”
Pentagon costs were close
A Pentagon review put spending at $33.4bn through 30 June, including $22.3bn on munitions alone.
“strategic inventory shortfalls”
A deadly strike stayed unresolved
The Pentagon report did not address an internal review of the Minab school strike, which killed 156 people, including 120 children.
US bases took damage
Iranian strikes damaged or destroyed hundreds of structures at US bases across Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan.
Interceptors ran low
Patriot, Thaad and Navy interceptors were used so heavily that rebuilding the stockpile could take at least five years, even with higher production.
“would probably take at least five years”
Taiwan planning got harder
CBO warned the shortage would matter in a Taiwan conflict, where US forces could face large waves of Chinese ballistic and cruise missiles.
“especially problematic”
Oil prices fed inflation
Disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz helped push Brent crude from $64 to a peak of $103, adding about half a point to inflation forecasts.
Some costs remain unknown
CBO could not estimate repairs to bomb-damaged US bases or future diplomacy and aid costs. It also could not examine $12.1bn in classified programs.
The main idea
The war’s bill is not just current spending. It has cut into US air defense reserves, raised prices and left repair costs unknown.
