US treasury secretary: Washington has 'plenty' of funds for Iran attacks

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that Washington has "plenty of money" to fund continuing attacks on Iran.

In an interview with NBC news, Bessent ruled out the need for tax increases to fund the war, but said the US military is seeking additional funding, without specifying a figure.

The request for funding - which is reported to total $200bn - faces opposition in Congress, with Democrats and even some Republicans, questioning the need after large defence appropriations last year.

President Donald Trump has not yet sent a request for the Senate and House of Representatives to approve the sum and his administration has made clear that the number could change.

"We have plenty of money to fund this war," Bessent said. "This is supplemental. President Trump has built up the military, as he did in his first term, as he is now doing in his second term, and he wants to make sure that the military is well supplied going forward."

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said last week that the extra money was needed "to ensure that we're properly funded for what's been done, for what we may have to do in the future".

Reporting by Reuters