The United States (US) is preparing to dramatically scale up spending on its military campaign in Iran, with the Pentagon requesting about $200 billion in additional funding.
According to a report by The Washington Post, the request has already been submitted to the White House for approval before heading to Congress, signalling a significant escalation in the financial scope of the conflict.
Donald Trump confirmed the funding request during a White House event on Thursday, describing the war as “very volatile” despite earlier suggesting it could end soon.
“We are being very judicious,” Trump said, adding that the US needed to maintain “vast amounts of ammunition,” partly due to previous military support sent to Ukraine.
Costs compared to Ukraine war
The proposed $200 billion package would nearly double the amount approved for Ukraine since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
A special inspector-general report shows that Congress has approved $188 billion for Ukraine, with about $110 billion already spent as of December.
The comparison highlights how rapidly the Iran conflict is becoming one of the most expensive US military engagements in recent years.
Pentagon stance on funding
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth did not confirm the exact figure but stressed the need for increased military resources.
“It takes money to kill bad guys,” Hegseth said, adding that the funding would prepare the US for future operations tied to the conflict.
“This kind of funding bill is going to ensure that we’re properly funded going forward,” he said.
War timeline remains uncertain
The timeline for the Iran war remains unclear. Initial US and Israeli strikes on February 28 prompted expectations from Trump that the conflict could last four to five weeks, though he acknowledged it might extend further.
Recent remarks from his administration have suggested the war could end soon, but Iranian officials have pushed back.
A spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Iran would decide when the war concludes, underlining the unpredictability of the situation.
Meanwhile, Trump’s economic adviser Kevin Hassett revealed that the war has already cost the US around $12 billion.
With the proposed funding now awaiting approval, the scale and duration of the Iran war remain key uncertainties. If approved, the $200 billion request would mark a major expansion in US military spending and could reshape the broader geopolitical landscape.
