Iran’s foreign minister claims Washington has spent four times its official figure on the war, while Tehran residents face mass evictions and the rial collapses to record lows.
The $100 Billion Claim
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the Pentagon of deliberately underestimating the cost of the US-Israeli war on Iran, claiming the true bill has reached $100 billion — four times the official figure.
“The Pentagon is lying. Netanyahu’s gamble has directly cost America $100 billion so far, four times what is claimed,” Araghchi wrote on X on Friday, adding that the indirect costs are “significantly higher” still.
The accusation came as the war entered its 63rd day, with no ceasefire in sight despite a Russian-brokered proposal for a three-day truce over Victory Day. Araghchi said US households are already facing approximately $500 per month in additional costs because of the conflict, through higher fuel prices, inflation, and supply-chain disruptions.
Tehran’s Humanitarian Crisis
While Washington debates the price tag, ordinary Iranians are counting the cost in ruined homes and empty wallets. Municipal authorities in Tehran have ordered displaced residents to vacate temporary hotel housing by the end of the week, despite many having nowhere to go after their homes were destroyed in strikes.
“I was told I had to leave the hotel by the end of the week, even though my home is unsafe and I have nowhere to go,” one resident told Etemad newspaper, describing a call from a municipal official who noted reconstruction had not begun due to lack of funds.
Official figures put war damage at approximately $3,000 per Iranian citizen — a staggering sum in a country where average monthly income is $150-$200 and the minimum wage is below $100. The rial has collapsed to record lows, with the dollar crossing 1.8 million rials in the open market.
Compensation Promises Unfulfilled
Under municipal pledges, affected households were promised temporary accommodation, rental support, and reconstruction assistance. Updated figures increased aid for household goods to 4 billion rials (about $2,200), rental deposits to 20 billion rials (about $11,000), and monthly rent support to 400 million rials (about $220).
But residents say these commitments have not been consistently fulfilled. Some families were instructed to pay for basic household items upfront and submit receipts for reimbursement — a process that could take up to 10 months.
“We lost everything in the strike and could not even recover clothes,” one resident said. “With that money, we could only buy a few basic items.”
63-Day Internet Blackout
The humanitarian crisis is compounded by an information blackout. Iran’s internet shutdown has reached 63 days — more than 1,488 hours of disruption — according to NetBlocks, limiting communication with the outside world and preventing families abroad from checking on relatives’ safety.
The group warned the prolonged restrictions are preventing many families from confirming the wellbeing of loved ones as connectivity remains severely restricted across the country.
What Happens Next
Araghchi’s $100 billion figure is almost certainly inflated for propaganda purposes — defence economists typically put the cost of sustained air campaigns at $1-2 billion per week, suggesting a total closer to $10-15 billion for 63 days. But the broader point about hidden costs — from disrupted energy markets to accelerated military depreciation — is harder to dismiss.
With both sides trading accusations and the US blockade of Iranian ports continuing, the economic toll will only deepen. For Tehran’s displaced residents, the question is not who is lying about the cost, but whether anyone will help them rebuild.
