Iran’s government has proposed a plan to triple its military budget, according to spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani, amid rising tensions with Israel following recent missile strikes between the two nations.
At a news conference in Tehran, Mohajerani highlighted that this proposal would result in a “significant increase of more than 200 percent” in military funding. While she did not provide specific figures, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates Iran’s military spending for 2023 at around $10.3 billion. The proposed budget will undergo debate, with lawmakers expected to finalize it in March.
Tensions escalated recently, as Iran and Israel exchanged accusations at a UN meeting about undermining peace in the Middle East. This exchange followed Israel’s airstrikes on Iran in retaliation for a missile barrage launched by Iran on October 1, which involved 200 missiles. The Iranian military reported four soldiers killed and damage to radar systems in that incident.
The Iranian strike was said to be in retaliation for attacks that killed leaders of Iran-backed groups Hamas and Hezbollah, along with one of its own commanders. Mohajerani stated that the government is committed to addressing the country’s defense needs, emphasizing that special attention has been given to this issue.
The regional situation intensified after Israel initiated a military offensive in the Gaza Strip against Hamas in response to unprecedented attacks on October 7, 2023. Israel is also currently engaged in conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
