The prospects for peace in the Middle East have diminished, a situation attributed to the hardline stances adopted by both the United States and Iran. Against this backdrop, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday that Washington’s expenditures related to the conflict with Tehran have exceeded $29 billion since February. Concurrently, consumer inflation in the United States reached a three-year high in April. The online publication Dawn reported this news, citing various sources.
Jules Hurst, the official responsible for bookkeeping at the U.S. Department of Defense, informed U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday that these costs encompass equipment repair, replacement, and the expenses associated with ongoing military operations. Reuters reported this development. Hurst stated that the Joint Staff team and the Comptroller team are regularly reviewing these figures. He made these remarks alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kane. On April 29, the Pentagon had reported that the cost of the conflict stood at $25 billion up to that point.
News of these expenditures emerged just as U.S. President Donald Trump departed for a visit to China aboard Air Force One. This marks the first visit to China by a U.S. President in nearly a decade. He is scheduled to hold meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday and Friday. Trade, Taiwan, and the Iran issue are expected to be the primary topics of discussion during these meetings.
Earlier, it was reported that the United States had rejected a response from Iran that had been conveyed via China. At the same time, Trump signaled that the prospects for a ceasefire are currently facing a severe crisis. CNN reported that some of Trump’s advisors are now seriously considering the resumption of military operations against Iran. Conversely, when asked about peace proposals regarding Iran, Donald Trump asserted that the United States does not require assistance. He stated, “No, I don’t think we need any help regarding Iran. We will win—one way or another. We will win peacefully, or we will win another way.” He further claimed that Iran’s navy and air force have been effectively destroyed, and that the country’s entire military capability has been neutralized. In his words, the blockade of Iranian ports has been “100 percent effective.”
He reiterated his firm stance that Iran would not be permitted to develop nuclear weapons. In a separate statement, he expressed confidence that Iran would never be able to develop nuclear weapons. He further claimed that Iran had reportedly told him that only the United States and China possess the capability to recover nuclear materials from destroyed facilities. Last June, Trump stated that during a 12-day conflict, Iran’s nuclear facilities were destroyed by attacks carried out by the United States and Israel. Consequently, its uranium enrichment capabilities have been severely curtailed.
