WANA (May 01) – Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has issued a formal challenge to the Pentagon’s financial reporting regarding the current conflict, alleging that the true cost to the United States has been significantly suppressed.

 

In a statement released on May 1, 2026, Araghchi claimed that direct expenditures have surpassed $100 billion, a figure that is four times higher than the $25 billion currently cited by American defense officials.

 

The Foreign Minister focused heavily on the domestic economic consequences for U.S. citizens, asserting that the indirect financial burden is rising rapidly and now equates to roughly $500 per month for every American household.

 

Araghchi framed these costs as a direct result of U.S. foreign policy priorities, concluding his remarks by stating that a policy of “Israel First” inevitably results in “America Last.”

 

To support these claims, the statement included two analytical charts. One graph illustrated a notable decline in the number of Americans who describe their personal financial situation as good, while the second chart tracked the sharp rise of U.S. federal debt as a share of the national GDP through the first quarter of 2026.

 

This rhetorical escalation follows a recent Pentagon briefing to Congress, during which officials estimated that military operations since February 2026 have cost approximately $25 billion.