The United States has spent roughly $12 billion on its military offensive against Iran, a senior White House economic adviser said Sunday, as the administration sought to reassure Americans about the rising financial cost of the war.
Speaking to CBS News, Kevin Hassett, a senior adviser to Donald Trump, said the figure reflects what the US has spent so far since launching joint strikes with Israel, writes TrtWorld, the Telegraph reports.
"The $12 billion was what I was informed had been spent so far," Hassett was quoted as saying, adding that the amount did not represent the total cost of a full offensive expected to last several weeks.
The comments come as Washington tries to reassure the public that the conflict will not significantly strain the US economy or require emergency funding from Congress.
According to TrtWorld, Pentagon estimates previously showed that the cost of the war exceeded $11.3 billion within the first six days, largely due to the heavy use of precision-guided munitions and airstrikes.
Hassett said the administration does not expect to ask lawmakers for additional funding, arguing that existing military reserves are sufficient to support the attacks.
Defense officials believe the offensive — which began on February 28 — could last four to six weeks, with Hassett claiming the military is already ahead of schedule.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright also predicted that the war could end within weeks, as administration officials sought to calm fears of the economic fallout from the conflict.
The US-Israeli offensive has already taken a heavy toll. Reports estimate that nearly 1,200 people have been killed in Iran since the attacks began, including the country's former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, while 14 US service members have died during the operation. /Telegrafi/
