Republican Congressman Scott Perry has suggested that Iran should compensate the United States for the cost of Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing bombing campaign launched by the US and Israel against Iran. The Pentagon has requested an additional $200 billion from Congress to fund the operation, which began on February 28 and is costing an estimated $1 billion per day.
Speaking to CNN's Kaitlan Collins, Perry argued that Iran should foot the bill, saying: 'I would actually like to see Iran pay for this, whether it's $20 billion or $200 billion.' He claimed that Iran has been 'at war with us for 47 years' and has resources that could be used to cover the costs, especially with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei no longer in charge.
Collins expressed scepticism, asking if Perry expected Iran to pay $200 billion. Perry acknowledged that under the current regime Iran would not pay, but suggested a 'different paradigm' could emerge. He did not specify whether payment would come as direct reparations or through Iranian oil assets.
However, not all Republicans support the funding. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert of Colorado told CNN she is a 'no' on any war supplementals, stating: 'I am so tired of spending money elsewhere. I am tired of the industrial-war complex getting all of our hard-earned tax dollars.'
The war has killed 1,500 Iranians, including Ayatollah Khamenei, and 13 American servicemen, while driving up oil prices. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has suggested suspending sanctions on Iranian oil to ease rising gas prices, a move Perry defended, claiming Iran would not benefit due to its decimated infrastructure.
