The world’s attention turned to the Middle East as a missile attack from Iran targeted Israel. Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system was activated in response to the missiles launched from Iran. Following the attack, Israel stated that they would respond at the appropriate time, escalating tensions between Israel and Iran and bringing focus on Iran’s military capacity. What is Iran’s military power, and where does it stand globally? How many troops does Iran have, and what weapons does it possess? Find the answers in our report…Iran boasts one of the largest armies in the Middle East, with a minimum of 580,000 active-duty soldiers and an additional 200,000 reservists. The army and the Revolutionary Guard each have separate land, air, and sea forces. The Revolutionary Guards are responsible for protecting Iran’s borders, with the coordination of these branches overseen by the Chief of Staff, who is also in charge of determining strategies. Within the Revolutionary Guards is the Quds Force, which assists, trains, arms, and supports groups within Iran’s resistance axis, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shia militias in Iraq, Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, and the Houthi militias in Yemen. While these proxy forces may not be part of the Iranian army, they are expected to support Iran in case of an attack. Iran is known to supply these proxy forces with drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. Among these proxies, Hezbollah in Lebanon is the closest to Iran.Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holds the role of the Head Commander of the armed forces, making critical decisions on all important matters. Iran’s military strategy has long been based on a policy of deterrence, with a significant focus on long-range missiles, drones, and air defense systems. The Iranian armed forces also consist of attack boats and small submarine fleets, capable of potentially disrupting oil shipments by closing the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. Iran is one of the countries in the Middle East with the highest number of drones and missiles. In addition to cruise and anti-ship missiles, Iran also possesses ballistic missiles, such as the Sejil missile with a range of 2,500 kilometers and a claimed speed of approximately 17,000 kilometers per hour, allowing Iran to target all objectives in the Middle East, including Israel. Another missile in Iran’s inventory is the Khaibar missile with a range of about 2,000 kilometers, while the Haji Qasim missile has a range of 1,400 kilometers, named after the Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani killed in a U.S. attack in January 2020.In 2023, Iran announced the production of its first hypersonic ballistic missile, Fattah. Hypersonic missiles can move at five times the speed of sound. Iran’s missile program is reportedly based on North Korean and Russian technology, with support also coming from China.In recent years, Iran has also emphasized its drone program, developing low-flying drones with a range of about 2,500 kilometers to evade radar detection. The drone known as Mohajer 10 was introduced last year. Iran also exports its drones, with reports indicating that Iranian drones have been used by Russia in Ukraine. There have also been reports of Iranian drones being used in conflicts in Sudan.Iran’s bases and ammunition depots are spread across the country, protected by air defense systems and located underground, making them difficult to target with airstrikes. Due to international sanctions, Iran cannot procure high-tech weapons and ammunition from abroad, with only a few countries agreeing to sell arms to Iran during the 8-year Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. After becoming the Supreme Leader in 1989, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei instructed the Revolutionary Guards to develop the arms industry and focus on internal production, providing necessary resources for this purpose. With an emphasis on defense production, Iran is now capable of producing its own missiles and drones. However, Iran has faced challenges in manufacturing naval ships and armored vehicles, turning to North Korea for the purchase of small submarines while trying to enhance fleet production and modernization. Iran also possesses anti-ship missiles with a range of approximately 300 kilometers, such as the Khalij Fars missiles, which can carry more than a ton of warheads. Experts note that Iran’s weakest unit is its air force, with many of its aircraft dating back to the era of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who ruled the country from 1941 to 1979, and are no longer operational. Concerns have been raised over the aged tanks and armored vehicles in Iran’s possession, as well as the limited number of warships. In terms of military strength, Iran ranks 14th globally in the number of troops, while Israel ranks 17th. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Saudi Arabia is the top spender on military equipment in the Middle East, followed by Israel. Israel’s military spending increased by 24% to $27.5 billion in 2023. Iran, on the other hand, is the fourth-largest military spender in the Middle East, with military spending exceeding $10 billion in 2023. The share of military spending allocated to the Revolutionary Guards increased from 27% to 37% between 2019 and 2023.