an extra $1.1 billion Monday that the Majlis never authorized. The government announced Monday that it had deposited an additional 280,000 rials (about $16) in the welfare payment accounts that Iranians have had since the shift from subsidies to welfare began in December 2010. With about 70 million Iranians receiving those welfare payments, the total bill for the one-time payment would exceed $1.1 billion. The government said the payment was a gift to mark the occasion of the appointment of the Prophet by the Angel Gabriel. It remains to be seen how the Majlis will react to this further use of the treasury as a private gift fund by the president.