Pentagon nominee says Iran war cost $29b as of May, faces scrutiny

The nominee for the United States Department of Defense, during his testimony to the lawmakers on Tuesday, stated that the US war against Iran has incurred an estimated cost of $29 billion as of late May, adding that the estimate does not take into account the damages incurred to military facilities among others.

Jules Hurst is the nominee of President Donald Trump to be the Under Secretary of Defence (Comptroller).

Sen Angus King, who represents the state of Maine, asked the nominee about the cost of the war with Iran, pointing out that Hurst was the acting comptroller and chief financial officer at the Pentagon until May 20.

"Mr Hurst, I'm not convinced by your statements of your ignorance regarding the cost of the war. Until May 20, you have been the Acting Comptroller, CFO, of the Department of Defence. That's about seven weeks ago. And now, here you are sitting there saying, 'Well, I don't really know, and I'm not in the position.' Come on, you knew that this was going to be one of the questions raised at this hearing today. How much has the Iran war cost the American people?" King asked.

"I will give you the same answer that I gave you during the posture hearing, that it was $29 billion at the time that I left the position. If confirmed, I'm going to work," Hurston replied.

When asked if that estimate included damage to US military facilities and assets in the region, Hurst said no.

"No, senator. That estimate did not include military construction," he said, arguing that this particular war highlighted the need for the United States to put even more money into the construction of its hardened and deeply buried military facilities.

King pointed out that the estimate of $29b included mostly the cost of the military operations themselves.