The White House has signaled that U.S President Donald Trump is “interested” in requesting Arab nations to cover the multi-billion dollar costs of the ongoing U.S. military campaign against Iran. U.S Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Monday, March 30, 2026, that passing the financial burden to regional states is an idea Trump is actively exploring. This potential strategy mirrors the 1990 Gulf War, where a global coalition raised approximately $54 billion to fund U.S. intervention; however, analysts note that the current conflict began as a unilateral move by the U.S. and Israel, complicating the diplomatic “ask.”
Karoline Leavitt said President Trump “would be quite interested in calling” on Middle Eastern countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE to pay for the costs of the war in Iran when asked by a reporter during Monday’s White House press briefing. https://t.co/yol8U0i53f pic.twitter.com/HC7fLa0RO7
— ABC News (@ABC) March 30, 2026
The war, now entering its 31st day, has already incurred massive expenses, with the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimating costs reached $16.5 billion by day 12. The White House is currently seeking an additional $200 billion from Congress to replenish munition stockpiles and sustain operations. While voices close to the administration, such as Sean Hannity, have suggested Iran should repay the U.S. in oil, Tehran has countered by demanding American compensation for war damages as a condition for any ceasefire.
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