The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Persian: نيروهای مسلح جمهوری اسلامی ايران‎) include the IRIA (ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران) and the IRGC (سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی) and the Law Enforcement Force[3] (نيروی انتظامی جمهوری اسلامی ایران).

These forces total about 545,000 active personnel (not including the Law Enforcement Force).[4] All branches of armed forces fall under the command of General Headquarters of Armed Forces (ستاد کل نیروهای مسلح). The Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics is responsible for planning logistics and funding of the armed forces and is not involved with in-the-field military operational command.

Iran's military was called the Middle East's most powerful by General John Abizaid, Commander, United States Central Command (U.S. forces' commander in the region). However, General Abizaid said he did not include the Israel Defense Forces as they did not fall into his area of operations.[5] less