18. Iran
Iran spends $81 million per year in their budget to maintain its vast military force that consists of 610,000 soldiers of which 350,000 are on active duty, making it the largest armed forces in the Middle East. Known as the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, it comprises of the Iranian Army, Police and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Given the embargo and sanctions from the US, they have an aging fleet but they continue to buy arms and ammunitions from wherever they can.