Iran Increases Its Military Budget Up To 200 Percent

Iranian government spokesman Fatemeh Mohajerani announced his country's military budget would increase by 200 percent.

Reported by CNN, Tuesday, October 29, President Masoud Pezeshkian when delivering his first budget to Iranian parliament, promised to increase military spending, citing regional situations.

The increase in military spending comes as Iran's allied militias in the region are significantly degraded by Israel. This year, Iran and Israel launched direct attacks on their respective territories for the first time.

In the latest clashes, Israel attacked Iran on Saturday, October 26, killing four soldiers and one civilian.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran would use all available means to respond to Israeli attacks on weekends against military targets in Iran.

Iran previously underestimated Israeli airstrikes on Saturday, October 26, saying the attack caused only minor damage.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden called for an escalation halt that has raised fears of a massive conflict in the Middle East.

Reported by Reuters on Monday, October 28, Baghaei said, (Iran) will use all existing tools to provide a definite and effective response to the Zionist regime (Israel)".

Iran's response nature depends on the Israeli attack, Baghaei stressed, without elaborating.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iranian officials should determine the best way to show Iran's strength to Israel, and said Israeli attacks should not be underestimated or exaggerated.