The Structure of Iran’s Armed Forces and the IRGC–Army Relationship

 

Key Takeaways

- Artesh, which literally means "army," is a branch of Iran’s armed forces that

surpasses the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in both manpower and

conventional firepower.

- Army’s Pahlavi-era origins, coupled with the fact that many of its senior officers

had received training in the US, fostered suspicion among the revolutionaries in

terms of its fidelity and in the aftermath of the 1979 Revolution, certain measures

were swiftly undertaken to restructure it into a force loyal to the emerging Islamic

Republic.

 

- Established in April 1979 as a militia force tasked with maintaining public order

and safeguarding the revolution in its immediate aftermath, the IRGC gradually

developed in parallel to Army and eventually came to possess its own ministry,

distinct from the Ministry of Defense.

-  During the Iran–Iraq War, significant rivalries and tensions emerged between the

Army and the IRGC, particularly over issues of command, control, and military

strategy.

- While the Army approached the war through a conventional military

lens –emphasizing weaponry, technology, and manpower– the IRGC prioritized

ideological commitment, emphasizing faith, martyrdom, and revolutionary zeal

as the core elements of its strategy.

- Despite undergoing “Islamization,” proving loyalty to the regime, and playing a

critical role during periods of crises, the Army remained largely sidelined in favor

of the IRGC, which was consistently entrusted with the most prestigious and

influential assignments.

- Although the Army occupies a central role in Iran’s overall defense strategy,

the IRGC holds a clear advantage in terms of access to advanced weaponry and

military technology.

- In recent decades, the IRGC –particularly through its Quds Force– has emerged

as a central instrument of Iran’s regional projection, extending its influence from

Iraq and Lebanon to Syria and Yemen.

- The Army was deliberately excluded from political affairs and confined strictly to

its role within the framework of military doctrine.

- The Army is often regarded as more conciliatory and as a potential partner in the

event of a prospective regime change. Nevertheless, there remains little doubt

about its overall loyalty to the Islamic Republic and its adherence to the principle

of Wilayat-e Faqih.

For the rest of the analysis in Turkish see, https://www.iramcenter.org/uploads/files/I%CC%87ran_Silahli_Kuvvetlerinin_Yapisi_ve_Devrim_Muhafizlari-Ertes%CC%A7_I%CC%87lis%CC%A7kisi_Son_b_.pdf