Rep. Scott Perry has suggested that Iran should compensate the United States for the cost of Operation Epic Fury, effectively arguing that Tehran pay for the brutal airstrikes it has suffered.
The Pentagon requested a further $200 billion from Congress on Thursday to pay for the ongoing bombing campaign, which began when the U.S. and Israel teamed up to launch joint missile strikes against the country in the early hours of Saturday, February 28.
Three weeks on, the war is eating up an estimated $1 billion per day and has killed 1,500 Iranians, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as 13 American servicemen, while also driving up oil prices.
Speaking to Kaitlan Collins on CNN Thursday, the Pennsylvania Republican declared: “I would actually like to see Iran pay for this, whether it’s $20 billion or $200 billion, whatever it is.
“Look, they’ve been at war with us for 47 years, and it’s finally being ended by the president, which is awesome, but it comes at a cost. And they have resources. They have been siphoning those resources away from their population for those four and a half, five decades.”
He continued: “Certainly, they could pay that bill pretty quickly once things get up and running. And the ayatollah is no longer in charge. So I think that’s an option that we need to pursue as well.”
An astonished Collins responded: “You want to see whatever this costs the U.S. taxpayer, whatever the Pentagon does come to you and asks for, to be offset by Iran?”
“Well, I think we gotta pay for this somehow, right?” the congressman replied. “I don’t see any reason why the people that started this war – it’s not the United States of America – it’s Iran.”
“I don’t think anyone thinks that Iran’s actually gonna pay $200 billion to offset the cost,” Collins put it to him.
“Yeah, right now, Iran’s not gonna pay for it,” Perry said. “But under a different paradigm where the ayatollah’s not in charge, and we have a different system of governance…”
The congressman did not specify whether he meant direct financial reparations or the U.S. taking payment by claiming ownership of Iranian oil, but his words carried a distinct echo of President Donald Trump claiming during his first term that he would charge Mexico for the cost of constructing his southern border wall.
One member of the GOP who has already expressed her opposition to paying out the $200 billion is Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, who told CNN’s Manu Raju Thursday: “I am a ‘no.’ I’ve already told leadership. I am a ‘no’ on any war supplementals. I am so tired of spending money elsewhere.
“I am tired of the industrial-war complex getting all of our hard-earned tax dollars. I have folks in Colorado who can’t afford to live. We need America First policies right now, and that? I’m not doing that.”
In the same interview between Collins and Perry, the host also challenged her guest about Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, telling Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business that the Trump administration might suspend sanctions on Iranian oil already at sea to help tackle rising gas prices.
The CNN host asked why it would make sense to ease trading conditions on a nation with whom the U.S. is already at war.
“Once that oil arrives wherever its destination is, do you think that Iran is getting the check? Do you think they’re going to be able to get the money?” Perry responded.
When Collins answered with a flat “yes,” the congressman fought the idea that Tehran would simply capitalize on such a step by selling to China and India, insisting the move would only benefit the U.S. because Iran’s infrastructure was too decimated to even take payment.
“I don’t think you can assume that the terms of sale are the same as they were 20 days ago now,” Perry said.
“The point is – Iran is not going to get the money. And even if Iran were to get the money, where are they going to spend it, you know?”
The former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, Perry has held his seat since 2013, but Democrats believe they may finally be able to flip it this year, given that he is running in a redrawn district that looks more competitive, potentially giving their likely candidate, Janelle Stelson, a fresh advantage.
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