Iran’s Parliament Increases Missile Budget by One Trillion Tomans

While Iran’s missile program and the activities of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have drawn international concerns, Iran’s Parliament has prepared a plan to expand the missile activities and extraterritorial operations of the Guard Corps.

Kadem Jalali, head of the Islamic Consultative Assembly’s research center, told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Wednesday, July 28, that the plan allocates 1,000 billion tomans (approximately 300 million dollars) for expanding missile activities and 1,000 billion tomans for counter-terrorism operations by the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

This 17-article plan, titled “Countering U.S. Terrorist Actions,” was drafted following terrorist attacks in Iran and is expected to be presented to representatives next week, according to Jalali.

Under this plan, the Ministry of Defense is also obligated to prepare an operational plan within one month to increase the country’s defensive and deterrent capabilities in the missile field and present it to the Supreme National Security Council.

Although this plan has not yet been approved by representatives, it appears that given the situation in Iran following the terrorist attacks on Tehran and the Guard Corps’ missile response to ISIS positions, there should be no obstacles to its approval in Parliament.

The plan to increase the budget of the Quds Force and Iran’s missile program comes as these Iranian activities have drawn international condemnation and concerns.

The United States government has sanctioned the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and individuals and companies related to Iran’s missile program. UN Resolution 2231 also prohibits Iran from manufacturing missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

On the other hand, some Middle Eastern countries also consider the Quds Force’s activities and Iran’s missile program to be sources of instability and insecurity in the region.

The United States has also described the Quds Force’s activities in Syria as assisting the Bashar al-Assad government in suppressing dissidents and violating human rights in that country.

Source: Voice of America