President Donald Trump is interested in asking Arab governments to help cover U.S. costs from the war with Iran, but the White House said Monday that no such arrangement has been announced.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Trump “would be quite interested” in raising the issue with Arab leaders. She said it was an idea the president has, but did not say any country had agreed to contribute, Reuters reported.
The issue came up as fresh questions emerged about the cost of the war. U.S. officials told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing that the first six days of the war cost at least $11.3 billion, Reuters reported. They said that number was an early estimate and did not include what a longer fight could cost.
Reuters also reported that the Pentagon has discussed seeking more than $200 billion for the war, though the number is still being reviewed and no formal request had gone to Congress. Any package that large would need approval from lawmakers, and members of both parties are asking for a clearer accounting of the cost and the broader plan, according to Reuters.
Iran has taken the opposite position in public and private messaging. Tehran is demanding compensation for wartime losses, guarantees against future attacks and other conditions as part of any possible talks to end the conflict, Reuters reported.
Trump’s latest remarks add a new financial twist to an already costly war. The White House has not presented this as an agreement, only as an idea Trump is interested in discussing. With the cost of the war going up and Congress demanding more details, pressure is building on the administration to explain who would cover the bill.
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