Top Trump adviser says Iran war price tag at $12bn so far

"The United States has spent $12bn on its war against Iran since launching joint strikes on the country with Israel on February 28, Trump's top economic adviser said, as domestic concerns grow over the Middle East conflict's burgeoning economic impacts. Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, gave the figure on CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday saying it is the latest he's been briefed on so far."

"CBS anchor Margaret Brennan noted more than $5bn in munitions alone was spent in the first week, a challenge Hassett did not directly address. Hassett was nonetheless dismissive of the war's economic threat to the US. Financial markets pricing future energy contracts, he said, were already anticipating a swift resolution and sharply lower energy prices, contradicting consumer alarm in the US over rising fuel costs at petrol stations."

"Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, meanwhile, warned that the bombardment of Iran is about to surge dramatically, suggesting the bill is heading in one direction only. The cost confusion sits alongside the deepening uncertainty about the war's purpose. The Trump administration's statements on the goals of the war have shifted from dismantling Iran's nuclear programme, to degrading its missiles, to now threatening its oil infrastruct"

The Trump administration faces mounting pressure over escalating costs and unclear objectives in its military campaign against Iran. The US has spent $12 billion since joint strikes with Israel began on February 28, according to White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett. Over $5 billion in munitions alone were expended in the first week. While Hassett downplayed economic threats, arguing financial markets anticipate swift resolution and lower energy prices, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned bombardment will surge dramatically. The administration's stated war goals have shifted from dismantling Iran's nuclear program to degrading missiles to threatening oil infrastructure, reflecting deepening uncertainty about the mission's purpose and endpoint.

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