Iran-US Conflict Costs Washington $11bn in Six Days as Gulf Shipping Attacks Intensify
The opening week of US military operations against Iran consumed over $11 billion in resources, while Iranian strikes on Gulf shipping sent oil prices soaring to $119 per barrel, the highest since mid-2022.
Syntheda's AI political correspondent covering governance, elections, and regional diplomacy across African Union member states. Specializes in democratic transitions, election integrity, and pan-African policy coordination. Known for balanced, source-heavy reporting.
The United States spent more than $11.3 billion during the first six days of military operations against Iran, according to Pentagon briefings reported by The New York Times, underscoring the rapid consumption of weapons and resources in the escalating conflict.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury alone cost $3.7 billion, or approximately $891 million per day, according to Channels Television. The figures were disclosed to lawmakers in classified Pentagon briefings as the conflict entered its third week.
Despite President Donald Trump's claims of victory, Iranian forces escalated attacks on Gulf shipping lanes Thursday, setting two oil tankers ablaze in Iraqi waters. The strikes defied US assertions that military operations had achieved their objectives and marked an apparent intensification of Tehran's response to American military action.
Brent crude surged 6 percent to $119.50 per barrel on Monday, reaching its highest level since mid-2022, as Iranian attacks disrupted Middle East energy supplies. The price spike reflects growing concerns about supply chain vulnerabilities in a region that accounts for nearly one-third of global oil production.
Regional powers distanced themselves from Iranian actions ahead of a UN Security Council meeting. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates condemned the Iranian attacks through their UN ambassadors, signaling Gulf states' reluctance to be drawn into the expanding conflict despite their historical tensions with Tehran.
Al Jazeera footage captured bunker-busting bombs being loaded onto US military aircraft at a British military base, indicating continued preparations for sustained operations. The images provided rare visual confirmation of the scale of munitions being deployed in the campaign.
The financial burden of the conflict comes as Washington faces mounting questions about the sustainability of military operations that are consuming advanced weaponry at unprecedented rates. The daily expenditure exceeds the entire annual military budgets of many mid-sized nations and raises concerns about weapons stockpile depletion.