The eight-month conflict began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which the two countries described as preventive action against threats from Iran’s nuclear and missile programs; Iran retaliated against at least 11 countries, including the UAE and Israel.

Donald Trump said countries the United States protected during the war should reimburse all U.S. costs, adding, “Without us, they wouldn’t exist” and “Without us, Israel wouldn’t exist.” He named Israel explicitly, after previously identifying Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Trump told CBS News the countries should repay the costs, but the White House did not explain how each country’s share would be calculated.

The U.S. military put the war’s cost at $47.1 billion by mid-October, excluding repairs to damaged U.S. bases; the Congressional Budget Office estimated the conflict added $2 billion to $3 billion for every month it continued.

The United States had used more than 1,700 Patriot interceptors and over 200 THAAD missiles in the region by mid-July, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing unnamed U.S. officials; a Patriot interceptor costs about $4 million.

Calculating a bill for each country would be difficult because it is unclear how many interceptors defended each nation or were used against particular Iranian missiles, and the total also includes costs such as aircraft fuel and rebuilding U.S. bases.

Analysts expect Gulf governments to resist direct repayment demands, pointing to their existing contributions to U.S. regional security and damage to their infrastructure from Iran’s retaliation; Trump’s rhetoric could also strain relations.

If Gulf countries contribute, analysts say it could be framed indirectly through investment in the United States, U.S. weapons purchases, or existing investment pledges and trade arrangements rather than explicit compensation.

Netanyahu’s office said U.S. assistance helped Israel defend itself and counter threats to America and the West, and that the relationship could adapt and remain strong; Netanyahu has said Israel hopes to phase out U.S. military aid over about a decade.

Trump said the United States would stop providing about $4 billion in funding to Israel by the end of 2026, while current annual military aid is roughly $3.8 billion under an agreement due to lapse in 2028.

Analysts largely view Trump’s statements as political signalling after Republican losses in the midterm elections, rather than a plan to impose large direct payments on Arab allies; party figures linked the losses to the increasingly unpopular war and rising fuel prices.

Trump said voters resented higher fuel prices linked to the Iran war and had “a great dislike” of Israel; ending U.S. aid could ease some criticism of Israel in Washington but also reduce U.S. influence over future Israeli military operations.