US President Trump reportedly expresses interest in seeking financial aid from Arab nations

US President Donald Trump’s administration has suggested that Arab countries may be asked to cover the cost of the ongoing war against Iran. According to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, this idea is one that President Trump has considered. When asked about the possibility of Arab states paying for the war, Leavitt stated that it is “something the president would be quite interested in calling them to do.” However, she declined to comment further on the matter.

In 1990, during the Gulf War, US allies contributed $54 billion (equivalent to $134 billion today) to help fund the US involvement. This time, however, the US and Israel launched a unilateral attack on Iran without involving their regional partners or coalition members.

Earlier this month, Sean Hannity, a commentator close to Trump, suggested that any ceasefire deal should include making Iran pay for the cost of the war. However, Iran has set US compensation for war damage as one of its conditions.

The conflict has resulted in significant financial costs for the US military, with estimates suggesting that the first six days of the war cost $11.3 billion and the total cost rising to $16.5 billion by day 12. The White House is seeking at least $200 billion in additional military spending from Congress to fund the military campaign.

The war has also had a significant impact on global energy prices, with the average price of one gallon of petrol in the US increasing to $3.99, more than $1 higher than before the war started. The Trump administration asserts that the surge in energy prices will be outweighed by the long-term benefits of weakening Iran.

Iran has argued that it was attacked first during diplomatic talks and does not pose a threat to the US or the region.

Source: Al Jazeera