President Donald Trump said Israel and other countries the U.S. has protected during the Iran war would reimburse Washington for its military spending, insisting America would recover the money despite mounting questions about the conflict’s cost.
Trump Demands Reimbursement For Iran War Costs
Speaking to CBS News’ Ross Douthat in a 60 Minutes interview aired Sunday, November 8, Trump said protected nations would “pay us back any and all costs that we’ve had for the war.” He added, “We’re gonna get all that money back,” asserting that he had already informed those governments and expected them to comply.
Trump made the remarks when Douthat questioned how Washington could withdraw its military presence protecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The president dismissed concerns about maintaining the deployment, calling it “Not very expensive,” before describing reimbursement plans. He provided no repayment figure or evidence of agreements.
Trump singled out Israel, arguing, “Without us, Israel wouldn’t exist.” He credited American B-2 bomber strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities with protecting the country and claimed the attacks eliminated Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
The White House did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for a comment.
Pentagon Estimates War Spending At $47 Billion
The financial stakes are substantial. A Pentagon estimate put the cost of American spending on the Iran war at $47.1 billion through October 16. The estimate includes ammunition replacement, military operations and equipment losses, but excludes damage to U.S. military bases across the Middle East.
The conflict has also disrupted energy markets. Preliminary data from Vortexa, an energy and shipping analytics firm, showed Gulf exports of crude, condensate and refined products averaged 17.1 million barrels per day in October, below September levels and roughly three-quarters of normal prewar flows. Shipping disruptions have complicated Washington’s efforts to contain fuel prices.
Iran War Raises Political And Economic Pressures
Trump acknowledged during the interview that the war and rising gasoline costs hurt Republicans in the November 3 midterms. Vice President JD Vance had similarly blamed the conflict for the party’s losses.
Meanwhile, Washington continued exploring negotiations with Tehran, while Trump weighed further military action.
Reuters reported on Sunday that Trump considered additional strikes unlikely if diplomacy advanced, although disputes over sanctions and Iran’s nuclear program remained unresolved. His reimbursement promise remains an assertion, not a documented agreement.
Recent Comments