Washington: The White House Office of Management and Budget Director, Russell Vought, announced that the United States has spent approximately $30 billion on military operations against Iran, during a congressional hearing on Tuesday.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, this figure follows previous estimates from the Pentagon in May, when Acting Chief Financial Officer Joels Hurst stated that spending was close to $29 billion. Vought explained that the new estimate reflects updated calculations of the costs of repairing and replacing equipment, along with general operating expenses for forces in the region.

It should be noted that this amount does not include the costs of repairing US military bases in the Middle East that were damaged during Iranian counterattacks. Independent estimates from the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicate that the war has cost between $34 billion and $42 billion when infrastructure damage is taken into account, while other estimates suggest the total cost, including damage, could reach approximately $40 billion.

The administration of US President Donald Trump had previously requested $87.6 billion in additional funding from Congress to cover the needs related to the operation against Iran. These developments come as Washington and Tehran continue to implement the memorandum of understanding signed on June 18, which stipulates a ceasefire on all fronts and sets timetables for lifting the naval blockade and restoring navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.