As most Iranians are struggling with dire economic conditions, the aid collected for the reconstruction of Shiite shrines in Iraq and elsewhere has increased.

A member of Iran’s headquarters for the development and renovation of the graves of Shiite figures in Iraq said on Sunday that the amount of donations for projects in the previous Iranian year -- which ended on March 20 – was 30 percent more than a year ago.

Yousef Afzali said donations for the current Iranian year are expected to reach 13 trillion rials, or approximately over $52 million.

He said in addition to the development of the shrines, other projects have been planned for the reconstruction and development of the tombs of several great religious and national figures buried in Iraq, including Salman the Persian -- a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the first Persian who accepted Islam – and Rais Ali Delvari -- an Iranian independence fighter and anti-British colonial era activist.

The headquarters, which is affiliated with the Quds (Qods) force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, had earlier announced that more than 150 reconstruction projects for Shiite religious sites in Iraq and Syria are being funded by the Islamic Republic and will continue for the next 20 years.