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.
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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
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