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Iranian strikes cost US billions

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U.S. forces suffered heavy equipment and base damage from Iranian attacks in the Middle East, and Pentagon auditors and budget estimates put costs in the tens of billions of dollars.

by Ian Bremmer

40%
ianbremmer.com
iran war in numbers (approx.):

$38 billion spent… >60% of interceptors used… diesel at $6.27 per gallon.

masterful gambit, sir.
September 16, 2026 at 4:57 PM

Reposted by David Darmofal, Jacob T. Levy, James Cameron , and 2 more

43%
mgerrydoyle.bsky.social
however much you think the iran war is sapping u.s. military readiness, it's probably more than that.

a free link for you, the people www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
The Iran Blockade’s Growing Price Tag Is Draining America’s Global Military Power
The cost of naval operations since the buildup began in January has topped $7.1 billion — not including all the US assets being used to escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.
www.bloomberg.com
September 16, 2026 at 6:01 AM

Reposted by Manisha Sinha, Stephen A. Meserve, James Goodwin

15%
sahilkapur.bsky.social
CBO analysis: The Iran war has cost the U.S. $38 billion as of August 1.

That’s >$246 million per day, on average.

CBO says the war has raised inflation and global energy prices, citing reduced traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, and says it’ll raise interest rates on treasuries.
September 16, 2026 at 12:29 AM

Reposted by Henry Jones

1%
qasimrashid.com
New CBO analysis shows as of August 1, Iran war has:
•Cost taxpayers $38 BILLION or ~$250,000,000 PER DAY
•Raised inflation & raised global energy prices
•Will raise interest rates on treasuries

Where are the MAGA “fiscal conservatives” on Iran?🤔 Oh right, Trump’s fascism & hypocrisy is the point.
September 16, 2026 at 1:38 PM

by David Rothschild

28%
davmicrot.bsky.social
It is hard to articulate how insanely stupid & destructive the war against Iran has been, but as one clear data point, there is no reason to assume the price of gas would have been anything other than flat had Trump not chosen to start his absurd war.
September 16, 2026 at 2:09 PM

Reposted by David Darmofal

11%
headquartersnews.bsky.social
Americans have collectively spent $107,000,000,000 more on gas and diesel during Trump's Iran war.
September 16, 2026 at 2:56 PM

by Gerald Friedman

21%
gfriedma.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
US House votes for third time to end Iran war after $38bn cost is revealed
Damaging budget report estimates cost will grow by $3bn per month and stockpiles of weapons could take five years to rebuild
www.theguardian.com
September 16, 2026 at 1:57 PM

Reposted by Henry Jones

1%
mrsbettybowers.bsky.social
Don’t believe the lies. Trump is *not* selling $2.8 billion of bombs for Israel’s genocide.

It’s worse.

Trump is *giving away* $2.8 billion of bombs for Israel’s genocide. American taxpayers are paying for those bombs.
September 16, 2026 at 1:14 AM

by Elizabeth Warren

6%
warren.senate.gov
NEWS: Trump's war in Iran has cost taxpayers almost $40 BILLION and drove nearly HALF of inflation.

It's a conservative estimate, excluding damage to U.S. bases, destroyed munition supplies, and higher costs like gas and groceries—per the Congressional Budget Office.
September 15, 2026 at 6:53 PM

by Timothy D. McBride

27%
mcbridetd.bsky.social
Iran war cost $38 billion through July, report says www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Iran war cost $38 billion through July, report says
The U.S. is expected to spend $2 billion to $3 billion per month as the war continues, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 15, 2026 at 9:37 PM

Reposted by Michael D. McDonald

14%
meidastouch.com
NEWS: The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion sale of 40,000 2,000-pound bombs and 20,000 penetrator warheads to Israel, with the weapons to be purchased using U.S. taxpayer dollars through the Foreign Military Financing program
September 15, 2026 at 10:36 PM

Reposted by David Darmofal

11%
carlquintanilla.bsky.social
“.. The CBO expects the Iran war to add roughly 0.5 percentage points to inflation during that period, a calculation that is largely driven by higher energy costs due to the conflict.”

@cnn.com
www.cnn.com/2026/09/15/p...
September 15, 2026 at 6:43 PM

by Timothy D. McBride

27%
mcbridetd.bsky.social
Independent Budget Office Estimates Iran War Has Cost $38 Billion www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/u...
Independent Budget Office Estimates Iran War Has Cost $38 Billion
The Congressional Budget Office said its analysis had been limited by the fact that the Defense Department did not respond to requests for information on the costs of the conflict.
www.nytimes.com
September 15, 2026 at 10:56 PM

by Menzie Chinn

120%
mchinn.bsky.social
CBO on US-Iran War costs (ex-base repair); 2026 PCE defl inflation 0.5 ppts higher than baseline #EconSky

econbrowser.com/archives/202...
September 15, 2026 at 8:25 PM

by Ryan Enos

20%
ryanenos.bsky.social
But, see, with the $5,000 bonus coming your way, that isn't so bad.

www.cnbc.com/2026/09/16/o...
Consumers hit by one-two punch of oil and rates from Iran war. The estimated bill is $1,700 per household
Rising oil prices and Treasury yields are lifting energy and borrowing costs for U.S. households, pushing consumers to draw more heavily on savings.
www.cnbc.com
September 16, 2026 at 1:52 PM

Reposted by Henry Jones

1%
moreperfectunion.bsky.social
The Iran War has now cost the average U.S. household around $1,760, according to an analysis from Moody’s.
September 16, 2026 at 1:26 PM

by Shibley Telhami Reposted by Marc Lynch

31%
stelhami.bsky.social
The Congressional Budget Office Estimates It Will Take 5 Years to Replace Interceptor Missiles Lost in the Iran War So Far.
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
Congressional Watchdog Puts War Costs at $38 Billion, Estimates 5 Years to Replace Interceptors
A nonpartisan congressional watchdog estimates the war with Iran is likely to cost an additional $2 billion to $3 billion a month.
www.wsj.com
September 15, 2026 at 6:44 PM

by Timothy D. McBride

27%
mcbridetd.bsky.social
Pentagon Inspector General Details U.S. Losses and Challenges in Iran War www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/u...
Pentagon Inspector General Details U.S. Losses and Challenges in Iran War
Helicopters for evacuating casualties were pulled from four countries, and hundreds of military facilities were destroyed, according to a new report.
www.nytimes.com
September 16, 2026 at 7:55 AM

by Marc Lynch

30%
abuaardvark.bsky.social
Good thing there’s no US munitions shortage
rimaanabtawi.bsky.social Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 23h
The $2.8 billion package, which would be purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars, includes 40,000 bombs that weigh 2,000 pounds each, including 20,000 MK-84s and 20,000 BLU-117s. The sale also includes 20,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads.
rimaanabtawi.bsky.social Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 23h
But some of y’all stayed home instead of voting for Harris.

NEW: The Trump administration is preparing a multibillion-dollar sale of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel in the largest single sale of the controversial munition in recent years, per U.S. officials

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
September 15, 2026 at 10:13 PM

Reposted by David Darmofal

11%
khanna.house.gov
While the majority of Americans, including many young Republicans, demand an end to aid to Israel, the Trump Administration is sending the Israeli military $2.8 billion of taxpayer funded bombs.

This is why so many Americans believe our political and economic system is broken.
September 16, 2026 at 1:40 AM
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