Iran accuses US of lying about aircraft losses

At least 81 destroyed or damaged American warplanes, helicopters, and drones could cost $3.3 billion, according to the latest report by the Congressional Research Service The extent of US aircraft loses in the conflict with Iran is much larger that the Americans acknowledge, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said.

In a paper published on Tuesday the Congressional Research Service (CRS) said that at least 81 US warplanes, helicopters, and drones had been destroyed or damaged in the fighting with Tehran since late February.

Araghchi reacted to the report in a post on X on Thursday, insisting that the “real toll is far higher” than the one presented by the CRS.

“Proof? CENTCOM (US Central Command) won’t let a sitting Senator inspect bases it claims are fine,” the foreign minister wrote.

Read more Iranian strikes forced US troops to ‘abandon’ Kuwait base – CBS (VIDEO) He was referring to a claim made by US Senator Chris Murphy earlier this week that he was denied access to the American Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which has been the target of Iranian strikes.

According to Murphy, the “unprecedented” rejection was “part of a coordinated, deliberate campaign by the Department of Defense to hide the consequences and the true costs of the Iran war.” It is getting harder for the Pentagon to “fool all the people,” Aragchi said.

He did not provide any alternative figures for US aircraft losses.

The CRS said in its paper that the cost of American planes, helicopters, and UAVs destroyed or damaged during the conflict could reach $3.3 billion.

The figures provided in the document came from news reports and statements by CENTCOM and officials from the Department of Defense, the CRS said.

Congress has criticized the Pentagon for its reluctance to provide a complete list of aircraft losses in the conflict.

Some of the most advanced US warplanes have suffered hits, including one F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter, which was damaged by Iranian fire on March 19, and 12 F-15E Strike Eagle fighters, the report read.

Read more ‘Iran-linked terror plot’ behind US bomber evacuation – NYT Three F-15s were shot down by friendly fire in Kuwait’s airspace in early March and another was hit over Iran the next month.

Eight more suffered minor damage during Tehran’s missile attack on an airbase in Jordan in September, but have since been fixed and returned to service, the CRS said.

Seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft were also destroyed or damaged, according to the paper.