Senator Chris Murphy accuses Pentagon of hiding Iran war costs

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy has accused the Pentagon of an “unprecedented and unconstitutional effort” to conceal the costs and implications of the war with Iran from Congress and the American public.

During a diplomatic tour of the Middle East, Murphy reported that the Department of Defense denied him access to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American military installation in the region. He also stated that officials refused to provide him with a briefing regarding the status of the conflict. Murphy characterized these actions as a “deliberate campaign of obfuscation.”

While Murphy noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio facilitated his trip by arranging meetings with regional diplomats, he contrasted this with the Pentagon's lack of cooperation. During his visit, Murphy met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, describing their discussion as an “honest, provocative conversation” intended to provide perspectives beyond those of the current administration.