how strong is iran military

Iran's military is one of the largest and strongest in the Middle East, with approximately 610,000 active-duty personnel and an additional 350,000 reserve and trained personnel, totaling around 960,000 military manpower. The country has a robust domestic arms industry, producing most of its military hardware, including tanks, armored vehicles, drones, naval assets, and advanced missile systems. Iran has heavily invested in ballistic and cruise missile programs, with missile ranges exceeding 3,000 km, and has developed significant drone capabilities, which play a crucial role in regional conflicts and deterrence. The military structure consists of the regular Army (Artesh) and the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which includes ground, naval, aerospace forces, and the elite Quds Force for overseas operations. The IRGC alone has around 190,000 personnel. The Basij paramilitary volunteer force further supplements Iran's defense capacity with millions of members claimed, although a smaller number are combat capable. In terms of global rankings, Iran is considered a Top 20 military power worldwide (ranked 16th in 2025) due to its manpower, missile technology, and asymmetric warfare tactics. Despite limitations in air power due to aging equipment and sanctions, Iran compensates with sophisticated missile defense systems, hypersonic missiles, cyber warfare capabilities, and an active naval presence in strategic areas such as the Strait of Hormuz. Overall, Iran's military strength is marked by a large and diverse force structure, significant domestic weapons manufacturing, advanced missile and drone programs, and strategic regional influence through its IRGC and allied militias.