Islamic Republic of Iran Army

<h2 id="history">History</h2>
<p class="note">Main articles: <a href="/facts/Military_history_of_Iran/E3zNkV6Y">Military history of Iran</a>, <a href="/facts/Naval_history_of_Iran/1sFJ9eNE">Naval history of Iran</a>, and <a href="/facts/Air_force_history_of_Iran/949LPCQs">Air force history of Iran</a></p>
<p class="note">See also: <a href="/facts/List_of_wars_involving_Iran/aqo6QLSF">List of wars involving Iran</a></p>
<h3>Classical antiquity</h3>
<p class="note">Main articles: <a href="/facts/Military_of_the_Sasanian_Empire/CShIVckr">Military of the Sasanian Empire</a> and <a href="/facts/Seleucid_army/5yaR9SEt">Seleucid army</a></p>
<h3>Early modern</h3>
<p class="note">Main articles: <a href="/facts/Military_of_Safavid_Iran/aa1Yqfyp">Military of Safavid Iran</a> and <a href="/facts/Military_of_Afsharid_Iran/8YMmhY5P">Military of Afsharid Iran</a></p>
<h2 id="missions-and-deployments">Missions and deployments</h2>

<p>The Iranian army has fought against two major invasions in contemporary times. The <a href="/facts/Anglo-Soviet_invasion_of_Iran/Nd77bH5C">1941 invasion</a> by the <a href="/facts/Allies_of_World_War_II/YzCdtjDY">Allies of World War II</a> resulted in a decisive loss for the Iranian forces, the deposition of <a href="/facts/Reza_Shah/3c5dNTrb">Iran's Shah</a> and five years of subsequent occupation,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> while the <a href="/facts/Iraqi_invasion_of_Iran/MB5YVo50">1980 Iraqi invasion</a> began the <a href="/facts/Iran%25E2%2580%2593Iraq_War/DqD7W8vd">Iran–Iraq War</a>, which lasted almost eight years and ended in <i><a href="/facts/Status_quo_ante_bellum/dyh47DfW">status quo ante bellum</a></i>. The army has also been actively engaged in quelling tribal and separatist rebellions beginning in the 1940s in order to protect Iran's territorial integrity.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a>
</p>
<h3>Extraterritorial operations</h3>
<p>From 1972 to 1976, Iranian troops were sent to Oman to fight with the <a href="/facts/Royal_Army_of_Oman/JhUeII1K">Royal Army of Oman</a> against the <a href="/facts/Dhofar_War/REtfbIIw">Dhofar Rebellion</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> In 1976, a contingent was sent to Pakistan to assist the <a href="/facts/Pakistan_Army/LonsGhBg">Pakistan Army</a> against the <a href="/facts/Insurgency_in_Balochistan/glmvth1u">Insurgency in Balochistan</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> Iranian personnel were also reportedly present in the <a href="/facts/Vietnam_War/W0gfbGTE">Vietnam War</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> 
</p><p>In 2016, members of the <a href="/facts/Special_forces_of_Iran/X4zXKaGs">special forces of Iran</a> were deployed to fight in the <a href="/facts/Syrian_civil_war/UD2gymjC">Syrian civil war</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a>
</p>
<h3>International peacekeeping missions</h3>
<p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Iranian_peacekeeping_missions/CaGwul9u">Iranian peacekeeping missions</a></p>
<p>The Iranian Army participated in <a href="/facts/United_Nations_peacekeeping/pfhrl5Wq">UN peacekeeping</a> missions in the 1970s, sending a battalion to replace Peruvian forces in the <a href="/facts/Golan_Heights/KtqR6nDN">Golan Heights</a> as part of the <a href="/facts/United_Nations_Disengagement_Observer_Force/En3N4b34">Disengagement Observer Force</a>. After the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the bulk of the forces were part of the <a href="/facts/United_Nations_Interim_Force_in_Lebanon/nAMXeY2b">Interim Force in Lebanon</a> until late 1978. Replaced by Finnish forces, Iranian peacekeepers were withdrawn in 1979 following <a href="/facts/Iranian_Revolution/frTYhJ0F">the Islamic revolution</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a>
</p><p>In 1993, the Iranian Army reestablished its professional peacekeeping units and declared that they are ready to be dispatched at the UN's directive.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> Since then, Iran has deployed forces in <a href="/facts/United_Nations_Mission_in_Ethiopia_and_Eritrea/o39pWzEr">Ethiopia and Eritrea</a> in 2003 and the <a href="/facts/United_Nations%25E2%2580%2593African_Union_Mission_in_Darfur/R2SEb7UT">African Union Mission in Darfur</a> in 2012.
</p><p>The Iranian Army's maritime branch has launched several missions to fight <a href="/facts/Piracy_off_the_coast_of_Somalia/e9E7wegD">piracy off the coast of Somalia</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> securing the release of many other countries' sailors.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a>
</p>
<h3>Aid missions</h3>
<p>The Iranian Army has deployed forces to help the <a href="/facts/Red_Lion_and_Sun_Society/AMeHsK9e">Red Lion and Sun</a> and <a href="/facts/Iranian_Red_Crescent_Society/l3QES304">Red Crescent</a> societies in rescue and relief missions after domestic natural disasters, including clearing roads, reestablishing communications, supplying goods, airlifting equipment, transporting casualties and personnel and setting up <a href="/facts/Field_hospitals/7v7u2HD1">field hospitals</a> and post-hospital care centres.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a>
</p>
<h3>Future missions</h3>
<p>In 2021, the Iranian Army had announced that it will launch a satellite into space.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="anniversary">Anniversary</h2>
<p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Army_Day/TM6P7fgX">Islamic Republic of Iran Army Day</a></p>
<h2 id="equipment">Equipment</h2>
<p class="note">Main articles: <a href="/facts/Equipment_of_the_Iranian_Army/0p8wIULr">Equipment of the Iranian Army</a>, <a href="/facts/List_of_aircraft_of_the_Iranian_Air_Force/76SSguFr">List of aircraft of the Iranian Air Force</a>, <a href="/facts/List_of_equipment_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Air_Defense_Force/dqtoDbXp">List of equipment of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defense Force</a>, and <a href="/facts/List_of_current_ships_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Navy/sh874ulT">List of current ships of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy</a></p>
<p class="note">See also: <a href="/facts/List_of_former_Iranian_naval_vessels/7fvP6GuS">List of former Iranian naval vessels</a> and <a href="/facts/Historical_equipment_of_the_Iranian_Army/q8XFHqWA">Historical equipment of the Iranian Army</a></p>
<h2 id="commanders">Commanders</h2>
<p class="note">Main articles: <a href="/facts/List_of_chairmen_of_the_Joint_Chiefs_of_Staff_of_Iran/Wht6Ijgx">List of chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Iran</a> and <a href="/facts/List_of_commanders_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Army/uDC2cefp">List of commanders of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army</a></p>
<h2 id="military-academies">Military academies</h2>
<p class="note">Main articles: <a href="/facts/AJA_University_of_Command_and_Staff/G2Dw1GK9">AJA University of Command and Staff</a>, <a href="/facts/AJA_University_of_Medical_Sciences/RX645MCw">AJA University of Medical Sciences</a>, <a href="/facts/Imam_Ali_Officers%2527_Academy/1JWJUJLP">Imam Ali Officers' Academy</a>, <a href="/facts/Shahid_Sattari_Aeronautical_University/fbxE2Nhq">Shahid Sattari Aeronautical University</a>, <a href="/facts/Khatam_al-Anbia_Air_Defense_Academy/YonVXzoj">Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Academy</a>, and <a href="/facts/Imam_Khomeini_Naval_University_of_Noshahr/MHkD1zYp">Imam Khomeini Naval University of Noshahr</a></p>
<h2 id="symbols-and-uniforms">Symbols and uniforms</h2>
<table><tbody><tr><th rowspan="2">Branch</th><th rowspan="2">Insignia</th><th rowspan="2">Flag</th><th colspan="3">Uniform colors and patterns</th></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/Service_dress_uniform/be2aXIy6">Service</a></th><th><a href="/facts/Combat_uniform/h1bHGRPC">Combat</a></th><th>Specialized</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Army_Ground_Forces/yVHunuA3">Ground Force</a></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td> </td><td>  </td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Air_Defense_Force/NHBqFVgt">Air Defence Force</a></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td> </td><td></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Air_Force/up92PhTe">Air Force</a></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Navy/rwS0DNwG">Navy</a></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td> </td><td>  </td></tr></tbody></table>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Islamic_Revolutionary_Guard_Corps/6EMxlKlm">Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Rank_insignia_of_the_Iranian_military/UJsXBgdj">Rank insignia of the Iranian military</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Islamic Republic of Iran Army.

<ul><li><a href="http://aja.ir/Portal/Home/">Official site of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161002141507/http://www.aja.ir/Portal/Home/">Archived</a> 2016-10-02 at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Army in the Passage of History: Annals, Revolution, the Holy Defense (in Persian). University of Command and Staff. 2012 [1391]. p. 48. ISBN 978-964-2523-38-2. <a href="978-964-2523-38-2" target="_blank">978-964-2523-38-2</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Simon, Rita J.; Abdel-Moneim, Mohamed Alaa (2011), A Handbook of Military Conscription and Composition the World Over, Lexington Books, pp. 152–153, ISBN 978-0739167526 <a href="978-0739167526" target="_blank">978-0739167526</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Simon, Rita J.; Abdel-Moneim, Mohamed Alaa (2011), A Handbook of Military Conscription and Composition the World Over, Lexington Books, pp. 152–153, ISBN 978-0739167526 <a href="978-0739167526" target="_blank">978-0739167526</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Hossein Aryan (November 15, 2011), The Artesh: Iran's Marginalized and Under-Armed Conventional Military, Middle East Institute, retrieved December 15, 2015 <a href="http://www.mei.edu/content/artesh-iran%E2%80%99s-marginalized-and-under-armed-conventional-military" target="_blank">http://www.mei.edu/content/artesh-iran%E2%80%99s-marginalized-and-under-armed-conventional-military</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Simon, Rita J.; Abdel-Moneim, Mohamed Alaa (2011), A Handbook of Military Conscription and Composition the World Over, Lexington Books, pp. 152–153, ISBN 978-0739167526 <a href="978-0739167526" target="_blank">978-0739167526</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>"Two Armies, One People and No Security". www.visegrad24.com. 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-09. <a href="https://www.visegrad24.com/articles/two-armies-one-people-and-no-security" target="_blank">https://www.visegrad24.com/articles/two-armies-one-people-and-no-security</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>Sheikh-ol-Islami, M. J. (August 12, 2011) [December 15, 1986]. "ARMY v. Pahlavi Period". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica. 5. Vol. II. New York City: Bibliotheca Persica Press. pp. 508–514. Retrieved March 15, 2016. <a href="http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/army-v" target="_blank">http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/army-v</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:8"><p>Sheikh-ol-Islami, M. J. (August 12, 2011) [December 15, 1986]. "ARMY v. Pahlavi Period". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica. 5. Vol. II. New York City: Bibliotheca Persica Press. pp. 508–514. Retrieved March 15, 2016. <a href="http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/army-v" target="_blank">http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/army-v</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:9"><p>Sheikh-ol-Islami, M. J. (August 12, 2011) [December 15, 1986]. "ARMY v. Pahlavi Period". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica. 5. Vol. II. New York City: Bibliotheca Persica Press. pp. 508–514. Retrieved March 15, 2016. <a href="http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/army-v" target="_blank">http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/army-v</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:10"><p>Sheikh-ol-Islami, M. J. (August 12, 2011) [December 15, 1986]. "ARMY v. Pahlavi Period". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica. 5. Vol. II. New York City: Bibliotheca Persica Press. pp. 508–514. Retrieved March 15, 2016. <a href="http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/army-v" target="_blank">http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/army-v</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:11"><p>Qaidaari, Abbas (28 April 2016). "Who sent Iranian Green Berets to Syria?". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 2016-05-02. Retrieved 29 April 2016. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160502064150/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/04/iran-army-brigade-65-green-berets-syria-deployment.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20160502064150/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/04/iran-army-brigade-65-green-berets-syria-deployment.html</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:12"><p>Qaidaari, Abbas (28 April 2016). "Who sent Iranian Green Berets to Syria?". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 2016-05-02. Retrieved 29 April 2016. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160502064150/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/04/iran-army-brigade-65-green-berets-syria-deployment.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20160502064150/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/04/iran-army-brigade-65-green-berets-syria-deployment.html</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:13"><p>Mays, Terry M. (2010), Historical Dictionary of Multinational Peacekeeping, Historical Dictionaries of International Organizations, vol. 29, Scarecrow Press, p. 279, ISBN 978-0810875166 <a href="978-0810875166" target="_blank">978-0810875166</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:14"><p>Iran: Country Study Guide, World Country Study Guide Library, vol. 78, Int'l Business Publications, 2005, p. 141, ISBN 0739714767 <a href="0739714767" target="_blank">0739714767</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:15"><p>"Iranian Peacekeepers Ready to Serve UN Missions, Anytime, Anywhere—Army Colonel". United Nations Information Centre - Tehran. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2016. <a href="http://www.unic-ir.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1191:iranian-peacekeepers-ready-to-serve-un-missions,-anytime,-anywhere%E2%80%94army-colonel&catid=9:eventenglish&Itemid=228&lang=en" target="_blank">http://www.unic-ir.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1191:iranian-peacekeepers-ready-to-serve-un-missions,-anytime,-anywhere%E2%80%94army-colonel&catid=9:eventenglish&Itemid=228&lang=en</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:16"><p>Wilkin, Sam (8 April 2015). Pomeroy, Robin (ed.). "Iran deploys warships off Yemen's coast". Reuters. Retrieved 25 April 2016. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-iran-navy-idUSKBN0MZ11C20150408" target="_blank">https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-iran-navy-idUSKBN0MZ11C20150408</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:17"><p>Wilkin, Sam (7 January 2012). Pomeroy, Robin (ed.). "US navy frees Iranians held by pirates". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 25 April 2016. <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/01/20121619222856166.html" target="_blank">http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/01/20121619222856166.html</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:18"><p>Razani, Reza (1973), The Engineering Aspects of the Qir Earthquake of 10 April 1972 in Southern Iran: A Report to the National Science Foundation, National Academies, p. 141 <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:19"><p>Abolghasemi, Hassan; Poorheidari, Gholamreza; Mehrabi, Ali; Foroutan, Ghasem (October 2005), "Iranian military forces in the Bam earthquake", Military Medicine, 170 (10): 859–861, doi:10.7205/MILMED.170.10.859, PMID 16435759 <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:20"><p>"ورود ارتش ایران به باشگاه سازندگان ماهواره". Khabar Fori. 2021-12-31. <a href="https://www.khabarfoori.com/بخش-دفاعی-32/2916826-ورود-ارتش-ایران-به-باشگاه-سازندگان-ماهواره" target="_blank">https://www.khabarfoori.com/بخش-دفاعی-32/2916826-ورود-ارتش-ایران-به-باشگاه-سازندگان-ماهواره</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Islamic Republic of Iran Army open-in-new

Islamic Republic of Iran Army