The United States has spent more than $11 billion in the first week of its military campaign in Iran, marking a rapid increase in costs since the operation began on February 28.
The Pentagon is now reportedly planning to request an additional $200 billion from Congress to fund ongoing operations. If approved, this amount would be used to expand the military campaign and increase weapons production for the duration of the conflict.
To date, joint US-Israeli operations have targeted more than 7,800 locations with more than 8,000 combat flights. The strikes have also damaged or destroyed more than 120 Iranian maritime assets, reflecting the growing scale of the operation.
In financial terms, the combination of current spending and additional demands could potentially exceed half the size of Iran’s economy, with the country’s GDP estimated at around $356.5 billion in 2025. This development highlights a significant cost gap between Iran’s military might and economic capacity.
Although Congress has approved a defense budget of $838.5 billion for fiscal year 2026, this new request is expected to spark intense political debate. Support among policymakers remains uneven, with key obstacles including the need for a supermajority vote in the Senate.
At the administration level, efforts to provide additional funding began immediately after the conflict broke out, with a primary focus on ensuring that America’s military readiness remains high. Priority was also given to increasing missile production and modernizing the defense industry to support long-term operations.
This development also comes as America’s military spending continues to grow aggressively, with a proposed defense budget reaching $1.5 trillion, reflecting the growing scale of commitments in global conflicts.
