WASHINGTON–TEHRAN, July 22. /Dunyo IA/. The U.S. military operation against Iran has already cost Washington $37.5 billion, while the Pentagon has requested an additional $87 billion from Congress to continue military operations, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate hearing that the cost of the war had increased by nearly $8 billion since the last official estimate in May. According to him, about $67 billion of the additional $87 billion funding package is planned to be allocated to operations in the Middle East.

The defence secretary warned that without approval of the new funding, the Pentagon would face a shortage of resources to pay military personnel, replenish weapons stockpiles, and sustain ongoing operations. He described the request as a “generational investment” that would enable the United States to maintain its military superiority.

At the same time, sources familiar with the matter told “NBC News” that the actual costs are significantly higher than the official estimate, as it does not include, among other things, the cost of restoring damaged U.S. military bases.

The hearing was repeatedly interrupted by anti-war protesters and concluded with a heated exchange between Pete Hegseth and Democratic Senator Gary Peters. Democrats criticized the Donald Trump administration for seeking tens of billions of dollars for a war that, according to the president’s own recent statement, had already been won.

Meanwhile, military operations continue. Yesterday, the U.S. military carried out its eleventh consecutive wave of airstrikes on targets inside Iran. In response, Tehran reported new missile strikes on U.S. military facilities in the region.

According to the Iranian side, strikes were carried out against targets in Tabriz, Khuzestan, Sirik near the Strait of Hormuz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bushehr, as well as several other parts of the country. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that it would continue operations to “punish the aggressor,” announcing that it had struck U.S. military facilities in Kuwait.

Against this backdrop, President Donald Trump, as reported by “CNN”, said that the United States could “pretty soon, and very heavily” strike the alleged secret Iranian nuclear facility known as “Pickaxe Mountain.” In response, Tehran warned that further escalation could push the conflict far beyond the Middle East.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during his visit to the Philippines that Washington remains ready for a diplomatic settlement, but added that Iran is “not serious about talks.”

“If they’re serious, we’re serious. If they’re not, then we will do what is necessary to protect our interests and also the interests of our allies,” the diplomat said.

Amid the ongoing military operations, the Pentagon confirmed the deaths of several more U.S. service members in the region. According to U.S. media reports, a total of 18 Americans have been killed since the war began on February 28.