Artesh - Islamic Republic Of Iran Army

The Islamic Republic of Iran Army is the ground force of the Military of Islamic Republic of Iran. In Iran, it is also called Artesh, (ارتش) which is Persian for "army." As of 2007, the regular Iranian Army was estimated to have 465,000 personnel (235,000 conscripts and 230,000 professionals) plus around 350,000 reservists for a total of 815,000 soldiers according to the CSIS. Conscripts serve for 18 months and have professional military training.

Iran has two parallel land forces with some integration at the command level: the regular Artesh (Army), and the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, also known as the Pasdaran (IRGC).

In 2008, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proclaimed that Iran was the most powerful nation in the world. Let's take a closer look of Iran military force. Iran's Military Might: Land, Air, Sea

Shot a Missile in the Air ...

Iranian marines atop a military speedboat during the Army Day parade in Tehran on March 18, 2009.

The Iranian Basij Militia and Their Intimidating Hats. Ahmadinejad has called the country's army a powerful deterrent to all enemies, saying "No major power is able to jeopardize the Iranian nation's security and interests due to the Iranian people's power today."

Iranian Snipers in Full Camouflage

You've Heard Of Iran's Famous Military Band? Now Meet the Conductor!

Iranian Policewomen

Iranian Soldiers on Motorbikes With Rocket-Propelled Grenades

Practice Run. Iranian-made fighters make target runs in Iran.

Iranian Army Helicopters and Navy Boats on Maneuvers

Iran's Elite Revolutionary Guard

Iran's Elite Revolutionary Guard

Soldiers Pray While Wearing the Colors of the Iranian Flag

Iran's Long-Range Missiles

Iranian Soldiers With Gas Masks

How Tough Are the Guys in This Iranian Light Submarine? Full Wetsuits, Scuba Tanks, Probably Flippers, and It Has to be, What, Maybe 112 Degrees in The Shade? In Short: Plenty Tough.

Iranian Paratrooper Floating Toward Flags in Colors Not Normally Seen in the Military

An Iranian Fighter Jet Similar, According to Iran, to the American F-18

Women Members of Iran's Basij Militia

An Iranian Surface to Surface Missle

F-5 Fighter Jets Fly Over the Minaret of Ayatollah Khomeini's Mausoleum

Iranian Soldiers, Sacks of Confiscated Opium in the Shape of a Skull, and a Bizarro Monster With Scary Tentacles. This Photo Doesn't Actually Have Much to do With Iran's Military, but was too weird to pass up. That okay?