• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

2

Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock

3

Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026

1

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

2

Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock

3

Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
EconomyIran

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion,but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting

By
Jacqueline Munis
Jacqueline Munis
News Fellow
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jacqueline Munis
Jacqueline Munis
News Fellow
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 24, 2026, 3:00 AM ET
Trump, Rubio, and Hegseth sit next to each other at a dark wooden table.
Marco Rubio, US secretary of state, from left, US President Donald Trump, and Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defense, during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.Samuel Corum—Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

After nearly four months of fighting, a blockade of one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors, a threat of “annihilation” of an entire country, and a shaky ceasefire, the war in Iran is over—or so it seems. Talks between American and Iranian governments to reach a preliminary deal and officially end the conflict continued well into Tuesday, despite months of the president declaring the war was over. And yet, with each passing day, the taxpayers’ bill for the war keeps ticking up. 

Recommended Video

On Monday, the Department of Defense told senators it needed an additional $80 billion to cover the cost of U.S. involvement in the conflict, just weeks after warning that the military could potentially run out of money should Congress not pass a new spending bill. 

After nearly four months of war, the conflict has reshaped key parts of the U.S. and global economies for years, if not decades to come. Americans have felt the cost acutely at the gas pump and in the supermarket aisles. Now, nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of the war, even if he doesn’t seem to mind the growing consensus against the conflict. 

“I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation,” Trump said in May. “I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all.”

The war has cost U.S. taxpayers and consumers at least $132 billion so far, according to Moody’s Analytics, but the cost to Americans is far from over and could last generations. 

Billions in military spending  

One of the clearest and most immediate costs of the war is the billions that have been spent on direct military action. On May 12, Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst III told the House Armed Services Committee that the war had cost $29 billion. Despite the six weeks that have passed, the Pentagon referred Fortune back to Hurst’s testimony when asked for an updated estimate this week.

Experts, however, say that number pales in comparison to the true cost of the conflict. Take for example the first 48 hours of the war, in which the U.S. spent $1 billion—and initially continued spending continued at a rate of $1 billion a day. Linda Bilmes, a Harvard Kennedy School senior public policy lecturer and a federal budget expert, said upfront spending is more likely to total the $200 billion amount in additional funds the Pentagon requested in March. That amount covers the costs of deploying more than 50,000 troops, repairs and maintenance, and munitions.

Bilmes says the Defense Department is low-balling their estimates by calculating the cost of current munitions, not how much it will cost to replace them. For example, the Tomahawk missiles used in Iran cost between $1 million and $2 million to make, but now it costs between $3 million to $6 million to replace, based on signed contracts with defense contractors reviewed by Bilmes. 

“Replacement cost of the inventory is two to three times higher than the inventory costs they’re using,” she told Fortune. 

That number is sure to drive up costs significantly, especially given that within the first seven weeks of the war, the Pentagon used at least 45% of its stockpile of Precision Strike Missiles; 50% of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors, and almost half of its Patriot ballistic interceptor missiles, according to an analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. 

In the medium-term, the government will have to repair damage to U.S. military installations across the Middle East in Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, including radar and housing units, according to Bilmes. That includes 228 structures that have been severely damaged, which, according to her estimates, can cost $200 to $300 billion to repair over the next three to five years. On top of that, the U.S. will likely provide aid to allies—especially the UAE, which coordinated strikes on Iran with the U.S. and Israel—to rebuild damaged buildings as well. 

All in all—while also accounting for military benefits and increased government spending—the total cost of the world will topple $1 trillion, Bilmes predicted. 

The prediction comes after the Trump administration has asked Congress for a 42% increase on the defense budget for the next fiscal year, bringing military spending to $1.5 trillion—something Bilmes believes is unlikely to happen.

“Congress is not going to do that, but even if you imagine that Congress eventually approves $50 or $100 billion a year above and beyond what it would have approved in the absence of this war, over 10 years, that’s already 500 billion to a trillion dollars,” she said. “These wars have exposed a lot of issues in terms of the various shortages of munitions and all the other things we have seen, and the fact that it’s very difficult when there’s a live war going, it’s harder for Congress to say no to certain kinds of increases.” 

Energy prices 

Not only is there a cost to the American taxpayer on the federal level, there’s also a cost to Americans at the pump and grocery aisle. The war choked off oil supply to the entire world, significantly raising prices on oil products while cutting off two billion barrels of oil from the world’s supply, according to data analytics firm Kpler. 

As of June 23, Americans have paid an extra $61.7 billion for gasoline and diesel since Feb. 28, according to Brown University’s tracker. That’s $471.20 in added expenses per household. High gas prices haven’t been felt evenly across the country. 

States such as Wyoming, Utah, and Alaska have experienced increases of more than $1.30 per gallon, while people in states like Florida, Texas, and Indiana are paying less than $0.80 more per gallon.

“Some places like Texas and Alabama were really feeling the burden more in part, because those are big states where people drive a lot, and they also tend to drive heavier vehicles or higher-consuming vehicles, like pickup trucks, so the burden for an average household was a lot higher in those places,” said Jeff Colgan, the Brown political science professor behind the tracker, told Fortune. 

While gasoline prices are slowly coming down from their $4.56 peak average price since the war began, experts and the U.S. Secretary of Energy don’t expect prices to go back down below $3 until next year.  

But compared to the rest of the world, Americans have fared better when it comes to high energy costs. Countries such as the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan have implemented four-day work weeks to save on energy usage, and Australia made public transport free to encourage people not to drive. 

Loss of economic growth 

The most unpredictable impact of the war will be its overall effect on global economic growth. 

Justin Wolfers, a professor of economics and public policy at the University of Michigan, estimated in May that stocks are 5% lower than they would be otherwise, a loss worth $3 trillion.  The Institute for Economics and Peace estimated that the war has reduced global GDP by about 0.6%, impacting fragile economies the most. 

Despite recent positive job reports, Federal Reserve economists Dario Caldara and Matteo Iacoviello predicted that a million fewer Americans will be working in a year due to higher economic risks. Similarly, European construction, transportation, metals, and chemicals could lose up to 1.3 million jobs due to high energy prices, the European Commission’s labor chief estimated. 

Future Americans could be paying for this war for generations. Less than a month into the war, the national debt crossed $39 trillion. Military spending, including the $80 billion request this week, will be paid for through borrowing, raising the national debt even higher. In the long run, high national debt will likely lead to higher borrowing costs, wage stagnation, and more expensive goods and services, according to the Government Accountability Office. 

Subscribe to Fortune Gulf Brief. Every Tuesday, this new newsletter delivers clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it. Sign up here.
About the Author
By Jacqueline MunisNews Fellow
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Economy

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Economy

Trump, Rubio, and Hegseth sit next to each other at a dark wooden table.
EconomyIran
The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion,but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
By Jacqueline MunisJune 24, 2026
3 hours ago
MSCI delays Indonesia’s market status review until November
AsiaIndonesia
MSCI delays Indonesia’s market status review until November
By Prima Wirayani, Bernadette Toh and BloombergJune 23, 2026
7 hours ago
Alan Greenspan testifying before the Senate Banking Committee.
BankingFederal Reserve
The man who invented the Fed’s magic trick just died. His successor is about to try it again
By Eva RoytburgJune 23, 2026
15 hours ago
Woman hides from the sun in front of Big Ben in London
EconomyEurope
‘London isn’t just calling—it’s cooking.’ Europe’s largest economies face over $600 billion in heat-driven losses by 2030
By Tristan BoveJune 23, 2026
16 hours ago
Young woman shopper in store
SuccessPersonal Finance
As 93% of Americans lean on coupons to get by, Bed Bath & Beyond is splashing out $100K on a home renovation for their thriftiest shopper
By Emma BurleighJune 23, 2026
18 hours ago
ks
PoliticsUnited Kingdom
10 years of Brexit means 7 Prime Ministers and a broken British politics
By Jill Lawless and The Associated PressJune 23, 2026
19 hours ago

Most Popular

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
21 hours ago
Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock
Banking
Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock
By Jim EdwardsJune 23, 2026
23 hours ago
Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 23, 2026
21 hours ago
Meet the 2 men putting New York's $300 billion pension fund in play for the first time in 20 years
Investing
Meet the 2 men putting New York's $300 billion pension fund in play for the first time in 20 years
By Nick LichtenbergJune 22, 2026
2 days ago
Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
Success
Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
By Sydney LakeJune 21, 2026
3 days ago
Texas and Charlotte used to build huge McMansions—now they're copying the California design tricks they once mocked
Real Estate
Texas and Charlotte used to build huge McMansions—now they're copying the California design tricks they once mocked
By Sydney LakeJune 22, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.