Iran war has cost US $37.5bn so far, Hegseth says
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth is requesting $87 billion in additional funding, citing a $37.5 billion cost for the ongoing conflict with Iran. The request faces scrutiny amid protests and concerns over the war's escalation and transparency.
Why it matters
The massive funding request highlights the financial and political strain of an escalating, undeclared conflict in the Middle East.
Figure caption, Watch: Hegseth interrupted several times as he seeks additional Iran war funding
The war with Iran has cost the US some $37.5bn (£28bn) so far - an increase of nearly $8bn since the last estimate in May, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said.
In his first appearance before the Senate Appropriations Committee since the conflict restarted, Hegseth said that military training would need to be curtailed without an urgent funding boost.
He said he was seeking $87bn in congressional funding for his department, with $67bn of that destined for operations in the Middle East.
The hearing was interrupted several times by anti-war protesters, with some shouting "stop bombing our children in Iran and Palestine".
Hegseth's appearance before the committee came at a pivotal time in the war after three US soldiers were killed in the Middle East.
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