By the Numbers / April 3, 2026

The Cost of the Iran War

“It takes money to kill bad guys,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said as he sought $200 billion in funding for the Iran war in March. But the cost far exceeds money.

The Nation
(Iranian Press Center / AFP via Getty Images)


HUMAN COST


175

Number of Iranians killed in the February 28 US missile strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school, most of whom were children


3,291

Number of Iranians killed as of March 24 since the United States and Israel started the war


1,072

Number of people killed in Lebanon as of March 24


22

Number of people killed in the Gulf states as of March 25


18

Number of people killed 
in Israel as of March 25


13

Number of US service members killed as of March 16


3.2m

Number of Iranians who have been displaced as of March 12


1m

Number of people in Lebanon who have been displaced as of March 23



FINANCIAL COST


$16.5b

Amount spent by the United States during the first 12 days of the war


$5.6b

Estimated value of munitions used during the first two days of the war


$3.5m

Estimated cost of one Tomahawk cruise missile


20%

Portion of the world’s oil and natural gas that passes through the Strait of Hormuz


30%

Portion of the world’s fertilizer exports that 
pass through the Strait 
of Hormuz


$119

Cost of a barrel of oil as of March 19


30–40%

Expected rise in the cost of fertilizer for farmers



GLOBAL COST


12

Number of countries Iran has struck in retaliation


5m

CO2 amount, in metric tons, emitted in the first two weeks of the war


56%

Portion of Americans who disapproved of the war two weeks after its start

Your support makes stories like this possible

From illegal war on Iran to an inhumane fuel blockade of Cuba, from AI weapons to crypto corruption, this is a time of staggering chaos, cruelty, and violence. 

Unlike other publications that parrot the views of authoritarians, billionaires, and corporations, The Nation publishes stories that hold the powerful to account and center the communities too often denied a voice in the national media—stories like the one you’ve just read.

Each day, our journalism cuts through lies and distortions, contextualizes the developments reshaping politics around the globe, and advances progressive ideas that oxygenate our movements and instigate change in the halls of power. 

This independent journalism is only possible with the support of our readers. If you want to see more urgent coverage like this, please donate to The Nation today.

The Nation

Founded by abolitionists in 1865, The Nation has chronicled the breadth and depth of political and cultural life, from the debut of the telegraph to the rise of Twitter, serving as a critical, independent, and progressive voice in American journalism.

More from The Nation

Trapped in “el Pozo”: As Overcrowding in ICE Detention Increases, So Does Solitary Confinement

Trapped in “el Pozo”: As Overcrowding in ICE Detention Increases, So Does Solitary Confinement Trapped in “el Pozo”: As Overcrowding in ICE Detention Increases, So Does Solitary Confinement

The spike in solitary confinement epitomizes the abuses of a migrant detention system that seems to be spinning out of control.

Francisco Rodriguez

The Dismantling of Black Studies

The Dismantling of Black Studies The Dismantling of Black Studies

Everyone committed to democracy, intellectual freedom, and the rule of law should be alarmed at what is happening—and prepared to act.

Feature / Jafari Sinclaire Allen

Trillion-Dollar Tech Bandits Are Finally Facing Justice

Trillion-Dollar Tech Bandits Are Finally Facing Justice Trillion-Dollar Tech Bandits Are Finally Facing Justice

An outdated law has allowed Big Tech to evade accountability for 30 years. Now landmark court rulings are giving consumers a chance to fight back.

Feature / Margaret Mabie and Yasmine Taeb

Jesse at Valley Forge Military Academy.

How the Military Mindset Has Crushed Our Country’s Men How the Military Mindset Has Crushed Our Country’s Men

I talked to troops and cadets about the kind of masculinity the military encourages. Its ripple effects on mental health are dire.

Jasper Craven

What the Dissents in the Mifepristone Case Tell Us About What’s to Come

What the Dissents in the Mifepristone Case Tell Us About What’s to Come What the Dissents in the Mifepristone Case Tell Us About What’s to Come

Justice Alito called the Supreme Court’s order “unreasoned” and “remarkable,” while feigning ignorance over the decades of research pointing to mifepristone’s safety.

Michele Goodwin

President Donald Trump holds a cross given to him by Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

The Hypocrisy of Trump’s 9-Hour Prayer Festival The Hypocrisy of Trump’s 9-Hour Prayer Festival

The claim that the founders meant America to be a Christian nation isn’t just bad history—it’s a declaration of war by the religious right.

Chris Lehmann