Iran US War News Live Updates: US war in Iran has cost $29 billion so far, says Pentagon
A person rides a motorcycle over a US flag painted on a street, in Tehran, Iran, May 12, 2026. (Reuters)
Iran US War LIVE: The financial and political toll of the conflict in Iran is coming into sharp focus on Tuesday as the Pentagon revealed the war has now cost US taxpayers $29 billion. The updated figure, disclosed by acting comptroller Jules Hurst during testimony before the House Appropriations subcommittee, marks a $4 billion increase in just two weeks.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is back in the hot seat, facing a barrage of questions from a sceptical House Appropriations subcommittee as the war with Iran enters a volatile new phase. The high-stakes hearing comes at a precarious moment for the Trump administration.
Story continues below this ad
The economic turbulence follows Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point for 20 per cent of the world’s petroleum, in response to the US-Israeli strikes on February 28.
Iran-US war ceasefire: Here are the latest developments:
- War costs climb: The Pentagon’s $29 billion estimate includes updated equipment repairs and operational costs, though officials have yet to provide a full breakdown of the expenditure.
- Inflation sting: Gasoline prices jumped 5.4% in a single month, pushing the CPI higher and complicating the Federal Reserve’s efforts to cool the economy.
- Hegseth’s ‘historic’ request: The Defence Secretary is seeking a 44 per cent budget increase, arguing the funds are necessary to revitalise a defence industrial base “hollowed out” by previous administrations.
Carriers Affected
24
incl. Lufthansa Group’s 5
Longest Suspension
Nov 30
Delta · Atlanta–TLV
Earliest Restart
May 12
Aegean · Beirut
Top Hotspot
Tel Aviv
14 carriers suspended
1
Delta
USA · Atlanta–TLV
LONGEST
202 days
2
airBaltic
Latvia · Dubai
LONGEST
165 days
3
Lufthansa Group
5 carriers · Multi-route
LONGEST
165 days
4
Eurowings
Germany · Dubai/AUH
LONGEST
165 days
5
British Airways
IAG · Reduced + Jeddah dropped
LONGEST
165 days
6
Finnair
Finland · Dubai (Doha Jul 2)
LONGEST
~142 days
7
Wizz Air
Dubai/AUH/Amman + Medina ∞
AUG–SEP
126 days
8
Air Canada
Canada · Tel Aviv + Dubai
AUG–SEP
118 days
9
Singapore Airlines
Singapore · Dubai (adding EU)
ASIA-PAC
82 days
10
Aegean
Greece · Dubai (Beirut resumes today)
AUG–SEP
111 days
11
Cathay Pacific
Hong Kong · Dubai + Riyadh
ASIA-PAC
49 days
12
Japan Airlines
Japan · Tokyo–Doha
ASIA-PAC
50 days
13
Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia · Doha resumes
ASIA-PAC
21 days
14
KLM
Netherlands · RUH/DMM/DXB
JUN–JUL
47 days
15
LOT
Poland · Riyadh
JUN–JUL
49 days
16
Royal Air Maroc
Morocco · Doha
JUN–JUL
49 days
17
SunExpress
Turkish/LH JV · Dubai
JUN–JUL
49 days
18
Pegasus
Turkey · 12 Middle East routes
JUN–JUL
20 days
19
Norwegian Air
Norway · TLV + Beirut launches
JUN–JUL
34 days
20
Iberia Express
IAG · Tel Aviv
QUICKEST
19 days
21
Air Europa
Spain · Tel Aviv
QUICKEST
19 days
22
ITA Airways
Italy · TLV/RUH/DXB
QUICKEST
19 days
23
El Al
Israel · Dubai
QUICKEST
19 days
24
Air France
France · TLV/Beirut/Dubai
QUICKEST
15 days
| # | Airline | Origin | Key Route | Restart Date | Days | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delta | USA | Atlanta–Tel Aviv | Nov 30, 2026 | 202 | Longest |
| 2 | airBaltic | Latvia | Riga–Dubai | Oct 24, 2026 | 165 | Longest |
| 3 | Lufthansa Group | Germany | Multi-route ME | Oct 24, 2026 | 165 | Longest |
| 4 | Eurowings | Germany | Dubai/AUH/Amman | Oct 24, 2026 | 165 | Longest |
| 5 | British Airways | UK | Reduced + Jeddah dropped | Oct 24, 2026 | 165 | Longest |
| 6 | Finnair | Finland | Helsinki–Dubai | October 2026 | ~142 | Longest |
| 7 | Wizz Air | Hungary | DXB/AUH + Medina ∞ | Mid-Sep 2026 | 126 | Aug–Sep |
| 8 | Air Canada | Canada | Tel Aviv + Dubai | Sep 7, 2026 | 118 | Aug–Sep |
| 9 | Aegean | Greece | Athens–Dubai | Aug 31, 2026 | 111 | Aug–Sep |
| 10 | Singapore Airlines | Singapore | Singapore–Dubai | Aug 2, 2026 | 82 | Asia-Pac |
| 11 | Japan Airlines | Japan | Tokyo–Doha | Jul 1, 2026 | 50 | Asia-Pac |
| 12 | Cathay Pacific | Hong Kong | Dubai + Riyadh | Jun 30, 2026 | 49 | Asia-Pac |
| 13 | LOT | Poland | Warsaw–Riyadh | Jun 30, 2026 | 49 | Jun–Jul |
| 14 | Royal Air Maroc | Morocco | Casablanca–Doha | Jun 30, 2026 | 49 | Jun–Jul |
| 15 | SunExpress | Turkey | Antalya–Dubai | Jun 30, 2026 | 49 | Jun–Jul |
| 16 | KLM | Netherlands | RUH/DMM/DXB | Jun 28, 2026 | 47 | Jun–Jul |
| 17 | Malaysia Airlines | Malaysia | KL–Doha | Jun 2, 2026 | 21 | Asia-Pac |
| 18 | Norwegian Air | Norway | TLV + Beirut | Jun 15, 2026 | 34 | Jun–Jul |
| 19 | Pegasus | Turkey | 12 ME routes | Jun 1, 2026 | 20 | Jun–Jul |
| 20 | Iberia Express | Spain | Madrid–Tel Aviv | May 31, 2026 | 19 | Quickest |
| 21 | Air Europa | Spain | Madrid–Tel Aviv | May 31, 2026 | 19 | Quickest |
| 22 | ITA Airways | Italy | Rome–TLV/RUH/DXB | May 31, 2026 | 19 | Quickest |
| 23 | El Al | Israel | Tel Aviv–Dubai | May 31, 2026 | 19 | Quickest |
| 24 | Air France | France | TLV/Beirut/Dubai | May 27, 2026 | 15 | Quickest |
Tel Aviv · Israel
14carriers
Aegean, airBaltic, Air Canada, Air Europa, Air France, Delta, Iberia Express, ITA, LOT, Lufthansa Group, Norwegian, plus Eurowings & Aegean multi-city — most-blocked destination.
Dubai · UAE
13carriers
Aegean, airBaltic, Air Canada, Air France, KLM, Cathay, El Al, Finnair, Lufthansa Group, ITA, Royal Air Maroc, Singapore, SunExpress, Wizz Air — the Gulf’s primary hub, staggered resumption May–October.
Doha · Qatar
4carriers
Finnair, Japan Airlines, Malaysia, Royal Air Maroc — the Asia-Pacific bellwether. JAL Tokyo–Doha until Jul 1; Malaysia resumes Jun 2.
Riyadh · Saudi Arabia
6carriers
Aegean, Air France, KLM, Cathay, ITA, LOT — BA cuts Riyadh from 2x to 1x daily from mid-May.
Beirut · Lebanon
5carriers
Aegean (resumes today, May 12), Air France, Eurowings, LOT, Norwegian — quickest unfreeze of any Middle East destination.
Source: Reuters Factbox, May 12, 2026 · Compiled by Reuters wire desk · Days counted from May 12 to restart date · Dates reflect latest end-date per carrier across all suspended routes
Follow The Indian Express Global Desk live coverage for the latest updates from the Middle East, the diplomatic corridors of Europe, and the evolving legal battles in Washington.
Live Updates
Stay updated with the latest – Click here to follow us on Instagram
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd