General Information - Iran
Total Military Force
Active: 540,000
Reserves: 350,000
Army (350,000)
5 Corps HQ
4 Armored Divisions with 3 Armored 1 Mechinized Brigade, 4-5 Artillery Battalions
6 Infantry Divisions with 4 Infantry Brigades, 4-5 Artillery Battalions
2 Commando Divisions
1 Airborne Division
Navy (18,000)
Bases: Bandar-e Abbas (HQ), Bushehr, Kharg Island, Bandar-e Anzelli, Bandar-e Khomeini, Bandar-e Mahshahr, Chah Bahar
Air Force (52,000)
including 15,000 Air Defense
Forces Abroad and Foreign Forces
Independent:
Lebanon (150): Revolutionary Guard, Sudan (Military Advisers)
UN:
UNMEE (Ethiopia/Eritrea): 2 observers
Currently about 400 military technicians staff from China, North Korea, and the Russian Federation are stationed in Iran.
Paramilitary (40,000 active)
Basij: 300,000
Law Enforcement Forces: 40,000
Strategic Force
There are ongoing investigations by the International Atomic Energy Agency concerning Iran's compliance with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. At the end of August 2003, the IAEA stated in a confidential report leaked to the media that trace elements of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) were found in an Iranian nuclear facility. In June of 2003, a IAEA Director General report stated that Iran had not met the obligations required of it by the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. A November 2003 report identified further violations. In February 2004 it was discovered that Iran had blueprints for an advanced centrifuge design usable for uranium enrichment that it had withheld from nuclear inspectors. In December 2003, Iran signed an additional protocol authorizing IAEA inspectors to make intrusive, snap inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities. The protocol was signed as an addition to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Continued uncertainties surrounding Iran's uranium enrichment activities were addressed in the IAEA's June 2004 report. Fears that Iran is trying to build nuclear warheads were aggravated on May 12 2006, when diplomats said U.N. inspectors may have found traces of highly enriched uranium on equipment from an Iranian research center linked to the military. Although the enrichment levels were below weapons grade, they were well above the levels needed to fuel a nuclear reactor.
For More Information See Links
| Iran * |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
| GDP |
84bn |
111bn |
|
| Defense Exp |
3.2bn |
5.1bn |
|
| Defense Bdgt |
2.1bn |
3.4bn |
4.2b |
* All figures in US dollars.
Links:
FAS on Iranian Nuclear Capabilities
The International Institute for Strategic Studies
Related Items:
Whale (Hoot)
Also known as the Hoot, the whale was tested on Sunday April 2, 2006 in Iran.
Fajr-3
The 240-millimeter Fajr-3 missile has a range of 25 miles. Production of the Fajr-3 missile is estimated to have started as early as 1991. Iran tested the missile on Friday March 31 2006.
Shahab-3
Iran's medium range ballistic missile system was recently introduced into the Iranian Army's arsenal after final tests in mid-March 2006.
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