Experts estimated the US cost of Tomahawk missiles at $3 billion.

The US spending on precision weapons during Operation Epic Fury against Iran has reached record levels. Washington spent about $3 billion on the use of Tomahawk cruise missiles alone, according to analysts interviewed by Izvestia. According to military expert Dmitry Kornev, the United States fired more than 1,000 such shells during the conflict. The average cost per Tomahawk varies from $2 million to $4 million, he explained.

"Freedom" in action: Will the US and Iran be able to reach a compromise now

The suspension of Washington's operation in the Strait of Hormuz defused the situation, but did not remove the key contradictions.

In addition, the US forces have used up about 1,100 JASSM-ER missiles. Each of them costs $1.1 million. At the same time, the intensity of the fighting exposed the problem of depletion of the American arsenal.

The official data from the Pentagon and the estimates of independent analysts vary by two times. So, according to the defense department, Operation Epic Fury cost the budget $25 billion. And sources of the CBS News channel and independent experts estimate the amount at $ 50-60 billion.

According to expert Kirill Semenov, the administration of US President Donald Trump has realized the futility of an exclusively forceful solution and is switching to the tactics of exhaustion.

"The focus is shifting towards economic and naval strangulation. This is a long-term strategy, designed for years. The goal is to deplete Iran's resource base to a critical level, when concessions will become a matter of the regime's survival," Semenov said in an interview with Izvestia.

Nevertheless, the military scenario remains "on the table." If the economic blockade does not bring quick results, Washington may return to the idea of direct military intervention under pressure from regional allies.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

Shock without trepidation: how much did Operation Epic Fury cost America