Ruben Gallego Says He Won't Support Authorizing Additional $200 Billion For The War In Iran

Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego said he won't support authorizing an additional $200 billion for the war in Iran following reports that the Pentagon is seeking the sum.

Gallego noted in a social media publication that "at the height of combat the Iraq War cost around $140 billion per year."

"If the Pentagon is asking for $200 billion they are asking for a long war. The answer is a simple no," he added.

The figure has made headlines over the past hour given its sheer size. The Associated Press detailed that the Pentagon sent the request to the White House and comes on top of additional funding the Defense Department already received last year.

Asked about it during a press conference on Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not confirm it, saying it could change.

However, he claimed that "we're going back to Congress and our folks there to to ensure that we're properly funded" and "it takes money to kill bad guys."

The war continues in the meantime, and energy prices soar following strikes on facilities in the region. Israel struck Iran's South Pars gas field, the largest in the country, leading Iran to retaliate by targeting Gulf countries, particularly Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City, a refinery in Saudi Arabia and two more in Kuwait.

President Donald Trump reacted to the developments, saying Israel was responsible for the attack on South Pars and wouldn't do it again if Iran refrained from targeting Qatar. Should that not happen, he vowed to "massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field."

However, a previous Axios report had claimed that the U.S. was aware of the attack and the two countries coordinated them as a way to send a message to Iran to stop targeting energy facilities in the region.

Brent crude oil climbed to as much as $119 per barrel, and wholesale natural gas prices in Europe surged by 25% before pairing some gains.