THE TRUE COSTS OF THE IRAN WAR
To arrive at the true costs of the Iran war, one must include:
the cost of munitions fired, equipment lost and damaged: $25 billion so far for the US
the cost of disrupted oil markets and higher oil prices
the cost of geopolitical risk: for example, less investment
continued high interest rates
lower economic growth
increased hunger for the world’s poor, caused by the rise in prices of food and fuel
increased future military costs, in the US and elsewhere: Trump wants a $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027, up 40% from 2026
Of course we are talking mainly here of economic costs, not the cost in human lives and livelihoods, destruction of infrastructure that must be replaced, destruction of cultural
treasures (of which Iran has many).
Source: The New York Times, 5/10/26