AI Brief
- President Donald Trump stated that further US strikes against Iran after the midterm elections remain a possibility.
- Pentagon data shows US military spending on the Iran war has exceeded US$47 billion, over 25% higher than previous estimates.
- Trump is scheduled for an Asia tour, with a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to address denuclearisation issues.
US President Donald Trump said "anything's possible" when asked on Wednesday (October 28) whether the US would conduct more strikes against Iran after the midterm elections.
The US military has spent over US$47 billion so far to prosecute the war in Iran, more than 25% higher than the Defense Department's estimate in July, according to Pentagon data obtained by Reuters. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its estimate, which has not been shared publicly.
The disclosure about the rising cost of the Iran war comes as Republicans wrestle with the political fallout of the unpopular conflict ahead of the November 3 election that will determine control of Congress for the next two years.
Trump is also set to embark on an Asia tour, where a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected, with denuclearisation potentially on the agenda — though Trump acknowledged it would not be easy to achieve given that other countries also possess nuclear weapons.
