Iran Conflict Drains US Resources; Military Spending Climbs Beyond $37.5 Billion

Washington: The ongoing conflict with Iran is proving increasingly costly for America. US Defence Minister Pete Hegseth said during the hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee that till now America has spent about 37.5 billion dollars (about Rs 3.61 lakh crore) on military operations related to Iran. During this, he also had to face sharp questions and criticism from opposition MPs.

Did any loss of life and property increase in war?

According to the Pentagon, three more American soldiers have died in the recent attacks. Since the beginning of July, 17 American soldiers have lost their lives, while more than 100 soldiers have been injured. The increasing losses have sparked a new debate in America regarding this military operation.

Is there any demand to increase the defence budget?

During the hearing, Hegseth said that the proposed 95 billion dollars additional defence fund and President Donald Trump's 1.5 trillion dollar defence budget proposal are extremely important for national security. He warned that the US military could face a shortage of resources if additional funds were not made available.

Were questions raised on the government in the Senate?

Senior Democrat member of the committee, Senator Patty Murray, raised questions on the government's strategy and said that America is moving towards a war whose end is currently not in sight. He also said that the government is constantly talking about ending the conflict but is also demanding increased defence spending, which is sending a contradictory message.

Will Economic pressure increase?

Experts believe that if Iran-US tensions continue for a long time, their impact will not only be limited to the defence budget but may also affect the US economy, taxpayers and the global energy market. Continuously increasing military expenditure may further increase the financial pressure of the government.