Islamabad, 28 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): The United States military has spent more than $47 billion on the war in Iran, exceeding the Pentagon’s previous estimate by over 25 per cent, according to data obtained by Reuters. The Pentagon has not publicly released the latest estimate and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The rising cost of the conflict comes as Republicans face political pressure ahead of the November 3 elections, which will determine control of Congress for the next two years. The war’s impact on global energy prices has weakened support for Republican candidates and affected President Donald Trump’s approval ratings, while his party maintains narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress. According to the Pentagon’s estimate, more than $29 billion would be required to replace munitions used during the conflict, while over $6 billion would be needed to replace damaged or lost military equipment, including aircraft and drones. Trump launched the war jointly with Israel in February, initially predicting that the conflict would be brief. The initial military strategy focused on using expensive, high-precision missiles to weaken Iran’s defences before shifting to less costly weapons, including Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) gravity bombs. However, an April ceasefire reportedly gave Iran time to recover underground storage facilities and restore some air defences, missiles and drones, increasing the challenges facing US military operations and contributing to the growing financial burden of the war.