"The Pentagon is lying. So far, Netanyahu's gamble has directly cost the United States 100 billion USD, four times the figure reported," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on social media on 1/5, referencing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He stated that indirect losses for American taxpayers are substantial, adding that the monthly bill for each household in the country is 500 USD and rising. "This is not 'America first' but 'Israel first'," the Iranian Foreign Minister emphasized.
The official shared two charts published by American media. The first chart presented results from a Gallup survey conducted from 1-15/4, indicating that 55% of Americans polled reported their financial situation was worsening, a 2% increase from 2025. The second chart, from the Wall Street Journal, shows that US public debt has exceeded 100% of GDP, a threshold once thought to be unbreakable.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in St. Petersburg, Russia on 27/4. Photo: AP
The Iranian Foreign Minister's statement came after Jules Hurst, a senior Pentagon official, stated on 29/4 that the campaign against Iran had so far cost the US 25 billion USD. This was the first official estimate of US military costs in the Middle East conflict, a figure equivalent to NASA's annual budget.
Hurst said most of the money was allocated for ammunition. However, the official did not detail the specific expenditures or whether the estimate included projected costs to rebuild and repair damaged military infrastructure in the Middle East.
A Reuters source reported last month that the US spent at least 11,3 billion USD in just the first six days of the conflict.
Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, head of Iran's judiciary, said on 1/5 that Tehran is ready to negotiate with Washington but will not accept "imposition."
"We do not welcome war in any form. We do not want war or wish for it to continue," he stated. However, the Iranian official declared that the country is "absolutely not willing to abandon its principles and values" to avoid conflict. He also said the US has "achieved nothing" in the conflict, adding that Tehran will "not back down" at the negotiating table.
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A US E-3 early warning aircraft at a base in Saudi Arabia after being hit by Iran, pictured on 29/3. Photo: Airbus
The two nations have held only one round of negotiations since a fragile ceasefire took effect on 8/4. Dialogue efforts stalled amid a US maritime blockade on Iranian ports. Tehran, for its part, continues to largely block the Strait of Hormuz, allowing only limited vessels through the shipping lane since the conflict began.
Axios reported on 30/4 that US President Donald Trump is expected to receive a briefing from Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US forces in the Middle East, regarding potential military action against Iran.
Israel Katz, Israel's Defense Minister, also warned that Tel Aviv "may soon have to act again" to achieve its war objectives.
Pham Giang (According to Press TV, AFP, Reuters)
