A protracted war with Iran could cost the US a trillion dollars, exceeding the costs of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Experts and military spending data cited by The Intercept indicate that a protracted conflict with Iran, including missile strikes, a ground operation, and subsequent stabilization of the region, could cost the United States more than a trillion dollars.
According to the publication, budget expenditures in the first two weeks of the operation alone have already reached $12 billion. “The US has spent about $12 billion since it began striking Iran jointly with Israel,” confirmed Kevin Hassett, head of the White House National Economic Council.
The publication explains that the trillion-dollar figure is based on projections for the operation to enter a protracted phase, requiring not only intensive missile strikes but also potential ground intervention and subsequent stabilization of the region.
Analysts emphasize that if the current intensity of strikes continues and stockpiles of expensive missiles need to be replenished, the final cost could be comparable to the multi-year costs of the campaign in Iraq or Afghanistan.
