Iranian budget: US$289 billion

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday submitted to the Majlis the 600-page rls 2,710 trillion (US$289 billion) budget bill for the next fiscal year of 1387 (March 21, 2008-March 20, 2009). In an address the president termed the bill "delicate and comprehensive."

According to Ahmadinejad, the development budget shows 30 percent growth in the budget for next fiscal year of 1387 (March 21, 2008-March 20, 2009). The Iranian leader also said the budget bill features lower share of the petrodollars in document.

President Ahmadinejad said the budget bill is oriented towards goals of the five-year plan. He said that the non-oil revenues have gained more share in the bill.

He said total budget of government out of the general budget is rls 715,000 billion. The state companies too will have a budget of rls 2,030,000 billion, he added.