Iran: 70% Increase in Military Budget During the Presidency of Rouhani
NCRI - The Economic analysts assess that the budget bill of 2017-2018 that is currently being reviewed by the Parliament of Iran is a military-security budget. The annual budget of Iran is usually composed of two parts. The greater part consists of public companies, banks, and governmental enterprises. The costs and revenues are only spent on this part and it does not include the ministries and governmental bodies. On the other hand, the smaller part is called the public budget which determines the policies. This section will be invested to the amount of 371 thousand billion Tomans (92 billion&750million dollars.1$ is currently equivalent to 4 thousand Tomans.)Some amount of this budget will be allocated to the following security-repressive and terrorist organizations:
-the Ministry of Defense (and its affiliated institutions):22999.9 billion Tomans (5billion &750million dollars).
-the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij Force: 24546 billion Tomans (6 billion & 136million dollars).
-the Joint Staff of Iranian Army: 7852 billion Tomans (1 billion & 963million dollars).
-the General Command of Armed Forces of Iran: 3121 billion Tomans (750 million & 250000 dollars).
-the intelligence and security affairs of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security Force: 11501 billion Tomans (2 billion & 850 million & 25000 dollars).
-the export of terrorism that a large budget was allocated to: 4924.9 billion Tomans (1 billion & 321million & 25000 dollars).
-the foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs (affiliated with IRGC): 10840.6 billion Tomans (2 billion & 710 million dollars).
The sum of the above figures is equal to 85899 billion Tomans (21 billion & 475 million dollars). This amount is more than 23 percent of the public budget of the next year. These figures are published in the book of the national budget bill of 2017 by the Management and Planning Organization of Iran.
In the next year's budget bill, the greatest increase is related to IRGC. The budget allocated to IRGC was about 15816 billion Tomans (3 billion & 954 million dollars) a year ago while this amount increased to 24546 billion Tomans (6 billion & 613 million & 500000 dollars), this year; i.e. 55 percent of increase in comparison to the last year.
During the 4-year presidency of Hassan Rouhani, the military budget has increased more than 70 percent. This figure includes the funding of IRGC, Basij Force, and Iran's Army as well. The following figures are based on data that has been listed in the official texts of the budget law:
2014: 32527 billion Tomans (8 billion & 131 million & 750000 dollars).
2015:42057 billion Tomans (10 billion & 514 million & 250000 dollars).
2016:50790 billion Tomans (12 billion & 697 million & 500000 dollars).
2017:55527 billion Tomans (13 billion & 881 million & 750000 dollars).
Last year, Hassan Rouhani had an interview with a state-run TV channel and explained:"some say that the government of plan and hope intends to curb inflation, end recessions and improve healthcare and foreign policy and it does not intend to strengthen defense system. Well, I must say that during these two years we have increased our strategic weapons and defense forces by 80 percent in comparison to the past 10 years."(The state-run TV Channel, IRIB 2, 2nd August 2015).
We must consider that the above figures are in contrary to the reality since a significant part of the cost is related to repressive measure and warmongering exerted by commercial and financial cartels that are affiliated with IRGC and the Supreme Leader. The organizations such as the Executive Headquarters of Imam's Directive, Khatam-al Anbiya Headquarter, Ansar Bank, Ghadir Investment Company and so on are those bodies in which their costs and budgets are totally hidden. Nevertheless, the above figures are following an uptrend. This trend is especially due to the growing involvement of the Iranian regime in the Syrian civil war.
