Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi claims US lying about war cost

Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi has claimed the “Pentagon is lying” about the economic cost of the war, launched by the Trump administration on February 28 alongside Netanyahu.

“Netanyahu’s gamble has directly cost America $100b so far, four times what is claimed,” Araghchi wrote on X.

“Indirect costs for US taxpayers are FAR higher. Monthly bill for each American household is $500 and rising fast. Israel First always means America Last.”

His comments come as the Pentagon's $25 billion cost estimate faces mounting scrutiny from multiple quarters.

According to a CNN report citing three unnamed sources familiar with internal assessments, the figure presented by a senior Pentagon official to lawmakers on Wednesday significantly underestimates the true financial burden.

The sources revealed that the $25 billion figure excludes extensive damage inflicted on US military bases across the region during Iran's defensive strikes.

When reconstruction and replacement of destroyed assets are factored in, one source noted, the cost likely ranges between $40 billion and $50 billion.