War does make for some very odd bedfellows. On December 7, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced a huge hike in military expenditure for the next fiscal year. Though he described the budget presented to parliament as "cautious" and "tight", military spending is to rise by 33.5 percent, far above the six percent increase in the general budget.
This will likely result in a greater military footprint in the region, particularly in Syria and Iraq, where Iranian troops are directly involved in combat, training, logistics and intelligence-gathering (Tehran this week expanded its operations in Iraq to include air strikes). It is also likely meant as a show of strength and defiance against Iran's regional rivals.
However, it is doubtful that Tehran can economically sustain its existing regional military commitments, let alone expand them. Crippling sanctions and a massive drop in oil prices mean a much larger military budget will put further strain on the economy, which has reportedly shrunk by 8.6 percent over the past two fiscal years.
Furthermore, the new budget might not be "cautious" enough. While it is based on oil being $70 per barrel, the price has fallen to under $70, with predictions that it will hover around $65 for the next several months, and perhaps slump even further. This is worrying news for the government, whose revenues are largely dependent on oil.
Western sanctions
In addition, western sanctions have caused Iran's oil exports to plummet compared with a few years ago. Last year, the oil minister said the fall in exports was costing the country up to $8bn each month. Iran reportedly lost some $26bn in oil revenue in 2012. Sanctions and falling oil revenues have hurt the value of Iran's currency, and caused inflation to rise considerably.
There has been an easing of sanctions in light of negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme, but it is limited. Given that the talks have been extended by several months, the bulk of the sanctions will remain in place at least until then.
There has been an easing of sanctions in light of negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme, but it is limited. Given that the talks have been extended by several months, the bulk of the sanctions will remain in place at least until then, with no indication as yet that a deal is within reach. Sanctions could be reinstated or increased if the talks fail.
All this amounts to an economy that cannot keep up with Iran's regional ambitions. The hike in military spending may arouse domestic anger if it is seen by Iranians as spurred by foreign ventures, which is already a cause of increasing frustration, particularly with regard to propping up the Syrian regime.
While Tehran is secretive about the extent of its military and financial assistance to its regional allies, there is a consensus that it has been a considerable economic drain, not least because of the long-term nature of these commitments.
Tehran's direct military involvement in Iraq is viewed by many Iranians as necessary to stop the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) from reaching its borders. However, there are reports of growing unease, among the public and within government, about the accumulating burden of propping up Bashar al-Assad in Syria, with no end in sight to a conflict that is entering its fourth year.
Given the current economic climate, it may be harder for Iran and Russia - which is also hurting under western sanctions and low oil prices - to sustain the war of attrition in Syria than for Assad's opponents. While the latter are also affected by falling oil prices, they are not under sanctions.
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http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/12/sustaining-iran-regional-ambit-2014121354258407502.html
