Trump’s Iran war: No ground invasion yet, but cost draws fire

The Story in Brief

The United States has been at war with Iran since 28 February 2026, when American and Israeli strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. President Donald Trump has so far resisted launching a ground invasion, a step that doomed previous US presidents in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. But Republican Representative Thomas Massie has called the conflict the Trump administration's 'biggest and costliest mistake', estimating direct military spending of over $100 billion and another $100 billion in consumer costs. The Pentagon has officially reported $37.5 billion in war costs so far. A defence spending bill remains stalled in Congress, with lawmakers angry over the military action.

The war has killed 18 US service members, according to the Pentagon, though lawmakers accuse the department of undercounting. Thousands of Iranian civilians have died, including children, and millions have been displaced. The US has not sent ground troops into Iran, but analysts warn that the pressure to escalate grows with each failed ceasefire.