The US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran has exposed the deep moral and economic rot at the core of the American empire. Far from a noble crusade for security, this conflict has proven to be nothing more than a massive wealth transfer from the pockets of ordinary citizens to the bank accounts of the military-industrial complex, corrupt politicians, and Zionist-aligned elites.
According to the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the direct cost of American combat operations against Iran reached approximately $38 billion by August 1, 2026. This staggering sum covers expended munitions, lost equipment, and military operations, yet it barely scratches the surface. Meanwhile, the American working class has been forced to foot the bill at the gas pump. Democratic members of the Joint Economic Committee estimate that US households have haemorrhaged an additional $71.5 billion on gasoline since the war began—an average of $604 per household.
Unsurprisingly, the American public sees through the deception. A June 2026 Quinnipiac poll revealed that 60 percent of voters believe the military action against Iran is entirely unjustified and not worth the cost. Yet, as public opposition grows and President Trump’s approval rating plummets to 34 percent, the architects of this war continue to cash in.
The Defence Industry: Monetising Bloodshed
For the American defence industry, every missile fired and every air-defence system deployed translates directly into record-breaking profits. Companies that manufacture weapons of mass destruction are thriving on the replenishment contracts necessitated by the war effort.
RTX (formerly Raytheon) reported $24.7 billion in sales in the second quarter of 2026 alone, with its defence-related backlog swelling to a massive $119 billion. Similarly, Lockheed Martin posted $20.1 billion in sales and a record $230 billion backlog, driven heavily by missile-defence systems. While the American public suffers, executives like RTX CEO Chris Calio and Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet see their personal wealth skyrocket through massive bonuses and equity awards tied to the bloodshed in West Asia.
The Trump Family’s War Economy
The corruption extends to the very top of the US administration. Unlike previous presidents, Donald Trump has maintained substantial personal investments that directly benefit from the chaos of war.
Trump held up to $45.6 million in oil and gas stocks at the end of 2025. As the US-Israeli war disrupted regional energy markets and caused prices to surge, the value of his personal holdings ballooned to $61.1 million—a paper profit of $15.5 million. He even doubled down, purchasing an additional $3.6 million in oil and gas stocks in early 2026.
The profiteering is a family affair. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have deeply embedded themselves in the defence and technology sectors through their respective investment firms, 1789 Capital and American Ventures. Their portfolios are packed with drone, AI, and military-tech startups—precisely the sectors flush with US government war money. In fact, at least 15 companies linked to the Trump sons’ investments have secured roughly $3.2 billion in direct federal contracts and loans since the administration took power.
Perhaps the most glaring conflict of interest involves Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Through his firm, Affinity Partners, Kushner heavily invested in Phoenix Financial, a major Israeli financial conglomerate tied to the Zionist regime’s security economy. In July 2026, amidst the height of regional conflict, Kushner cashed out a quarter of his stake for over $340 million—a return of more than five times his initial investment—while retaining a stake worth over $1 billion. Kushner’s ability to leverage his political proximity to power for massive financial gain from Israel’s war economy highlights the deeply entrenched corruption of the American political elite.
Big Oil and Congressional Insider Trading
The disruption of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz—vital global energy corridors—has predictably enriched Big Oil. Executives at ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Cheniere Energy have seen their stock values soar, allowing them to cash out millions while US refiners like Marathon Petroleum and Valero rake in an estimated $32.4 billion in combined profits over just two quarters.
This blatant profiteering is further enabled by a complicit US Congress. Lawmakers who vote on foreign policy and defence spending have been caught trading stocks in the very companies benefiting from the war. Republican Senator Alan Armstrong and Democratic Representative Jared Moskowitz bought shares in Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics, while other representatives sold off defence stocks for hefty profits.
Even more sinister are the anonymous traders who have gamed the system. Reuters uncovered up to $7 billion in mysterious oil futures trades placed just before major Trump announcements regarding Iran. On prediction markets like Polymarket, anonymous insiders—such as an account named “Magamyman”—made hundreds of thousands of dollars betting on the exact timing of US-Israeli strikes, strongly suggesting the use of illicit, insider information.
Conclusion
The US-Israeli war on Iran has laid bare the ultimate hypocrisy of the American system. While the working class is burdened with $38 billion in combat costs and crippling inflation, the political and corporate elite—including the Trump family, Zionist-aligned investors, and defence contractors—have turned regional instability into a multi-billion-dollar goldmine. For the architects of this unjust war, bloodshed in West Asia is simply another lucrative business opportunity.
Reference: Tehran Times