Iran war has cost €25bn so far, US defence secretary Hegseth tells Congress

Secretary of defence Pete Hegseth (Rod Lamkey Jr/AP)

Sceptical Democrats have confronted US defence secretary Pete Hegseth for the first time since the Trump administration went to war with Iran, bringing tense exchanges over a costly conflict that has been waged without congressional approval.

The hearing before the House Armed Services Committee was being held to discuss the administration’s 2027 military budget proposal, which would boost defence spending to a historic $1.5tn.