Explosions in Tehran as US war costs exceed $37 billion

Explosions echoed through Iran's capital, Tehran, marking the first detonations heard since a recent ceasefire concluded. The U.S. military announced the conclusion of its eleventh consecutive night of airstrikes, signaling a significant escalation in the conflict.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed that the ongoing war has incurred costs exceeding $37.5 billion for the United States, a substantial increase from the earlier estimate of $29 billion. Hegseth made these remarks during a U.S. Senate hearing where he sought supplementary defense funding, facing interruptions from protesters demanding an end to the war.

Adding to the grim toll, the U.S. military confirmed the death of a third soldier following an attack on a base in Jordan. The deceased, a 28-year-old from New York, joins a 25-year-old soldier from Hawaii and a 19-year-old soldier from Texas, bringing the total number of U.S. military personnel killed since the war began to 18.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a warning regarding the economic repercussions of the escalating military actions in Iran and the broader Gulf region. He noted that the conflict is intensifying pressure on trade, transport, and prices.