Iranian lawmakers vote to boost military spending

Iranian lawmakers approved a five-year plan on Monday to expand military spending to at least five percent of Iran’s budget, up from two percent.

The plans include developing Iran’s long-range missile program, according to a report by Reuters.

President-elect Donald Trump has pledged not to let Iran develop missiles capable of reaching the United States. 

“We’re not gonna let that happen. We’re not letting that happen,” Trump vowed on March 21 at an American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference. 

{mosads}Critics say the move is inconsistent with a United Nations resolution that calls on Iran to refrain from work on ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons. 

Iran says it has not carried out any work on missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads. 

Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), a senior member of the Foreign Relations Committee, called for immediate sanctions on Iran for its support of terrorism, its missile program and human rights abuses. 

“I urge the incoming Administration to support these actions to stop Iran’s aggression,” he said. 

The approval of the plan comes a day after Iranian speedboats with their weapons manned harassed a U.S. Navy destroyer transiting into the Persian Gulf.

The speedboats, belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, sped toward the USS Mahan, ignoring warning flares and other signals. They stopped only when the Mahan fired three warning shots.