US-Iran War Cost Hits $37.5bn as Trump Attends Dignified Transfer, Claims Fallen Soldiers Supported the War

At least three US soldiers have been killed and nearly 100 injured in Iranian strikes this month as the US-Iran conflict escalates.

At least four American service members have now been killed in the US-Iran conflict, with nearly 100 others injured. Three died in Jordan from an Iranian drone attack: two were reported initially, and a third — Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of New York — has now been identified after initially being listed as missing. A fourth US soldier, Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, was killed at Erbil airbase in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone. The total US-Iran war death toll has reached 17, according to The Guardian. Iran has also struck US allies in the Gulf, including triggering sirens in Bahrain, while Kuwait has accused Tehran of targeting civilian sites and infrastructure. Trump attended the dignified transfer of the remains of the killed service members, flying the grieving family of Army Lt. Tyler Feehan — one of the fallen soldiers — on Air Force One and delivering an emotional tribute. Speaking at the ceremony, Trump controversially claimed the fallen soldiers supported the Iran war, a characterization that drew scrutiny. He had previously told reporters that polls show 'Americans aren't against the war' with Iran — a claim contradicted by new polling showing MAGA support for the conflict has plummeted, with reports that Trump privately knows 'the victory that he wants is completely politically impossible.' Trump has publicly shrugged off the war's mounting death toll and costs, saying the conflict 'won't have any impact on me.' Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told the Senate Appropriations Committee that the war has cost $37.5 billion so far, and has requested nearly $88 billion in additional funding — a figure that has alarmed lawmakers and fueled warnings of 'another forever war.' Republicans are separately pushing a broader $95 billion military funding package. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) sharply challenged Hegseth, citing his earlier claims that 'Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory' and that Iran's military had been rendered 'combat ineffective for years to come,' questioning whether those assertions were accurate given ongoing fighting and casualties. The US-Iran conflict has now extended into a tenth consecutive night of US retaliatory strikes. Iran has escalated its own strikes, attacking a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and forcing its crew to abandon ship, raising fears about freedom of navigation in one of the world's most critical oil shipping lanes. A Trump administration official indicated the mission's focus has shifted toward ensuring the flow of oil from the region. A leaked US intelligence report concluded that Iran retained approximately 70% of its missiles and launchers after a 38-day US spring campaign, underscoring Iran's continued capacity to inflict damage. US forces have also boarded a ship amid a ports blockade, and Iranian airports, bridges, and a southern rail station have been hit in strikes, while the IRGC claimed to have destroyed US fighter jets stationed in Jordan. Oil prices have risen above $90 a barrel before easing slightly after Tehran indicated talks remain ongoing. European gas prices have surged to a four-year high amid fears of winter shortages. In Australia, economists warn the global energy market is at a 'critical juncture,' with the Reserve Bank of Australia now seen as twice as likely to raise interest rates. Diplomatic efforts are underway to salvage the collapsed interim deal. Pakistan is playing a key mediating role, with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visiting Islamabad. Trump hosted Lebanon's president at the White House — the first such visit since 2009 — and indicated openness to speaking with Hezbollah as part of broader regional peace talks. Democrats have called on Trump to halt the conflict, with some accusing him of having 'lost control of this war.' Trump did not publicly respond to the soldiers' deaths until two days after initial reports, drawing criticism, and described the deaths as 'a very sad thing,' framing them as a cost of war.

Why it matters

The rising US casualty count — nearly 100 injured and three killed in July alone — marks a significant escalation in the US-Iran conflict, and the stated shift in mission objectives toward oil flow raises questions about the war's scope and endpoint.

What's next

Congressional pressure from Democrats is mounting on Trump to articulate an exit strategy or end the conflict, and the administration's stated mission shift toward oil security is likely to face further scrutiny.

Key facts

Bias & framing notes

Raw Story and its sourced analyst David Rothkopf focused heavily on Trump's empathy deficit and delayed response, framing the story around presidential character rather than the military conflict itself. The Guardian's coverage was broader, covering Democratic opposition, mission objectives, and casualty figures, but repeatedly foregrounded critics of the war. The Express and WFAA provided more straightforward factual reporting on casualties and personal tributes. No source provided substantial on-the-record comment from the Trump administration defending the pace or conduct of the war beyond the 'in honor' framing.

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