Trump Says US Allies Will Pay Back the Cost of the Iran War

President Donald Trump says countries the United States has defended during the Iran war will reimburse Washington for what it has spent. In a Sunday 60 Minutes interview, he said those nations would cover all of the costs and that the money would come back, adding that he had already told their governments. He made the comments when asked how the US could pull back the forces guarding shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which he described as not very expensive. He offered no repayment amount and no proof of any agreements. He singled out Israel, arguing it would not exist without American help, and credited B-2 strikes on Iranian nuclear sites with wiping out Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.

Iran War Cost and Oil Market Disruption

A Pentagon estimate puts US spending on the war at $47.1 billion through October 16, covering replacement ammunition, operations and equipment losses, though not damage to American bases in the Middle East. Preliminary Vortexa data shows Gulf exports of crude and refined products averaged 17.1 million barrels per day in October, about three quarters of normal prewar levels, which has made it harder to keep fuel prices down.

Political Fallout After the Midterms

Trump admitted the war and higher gasoline prices hurt Republicans in the November 3 midterms, and Vice President JD Vance has also blamed the conflict for the losses. Meanwhile, Washington is still exploring talks with Tehran, even as Trump considers further military action.