The uneasy coexistence of Iran's dual military forces
In short: While the Artesh is tasked with defending Iran's borders, a fierce rivalry exists with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This competition for resources and influence creates a unique institutional divide, where one force protects the territory and the other safeguards the revolution itself.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Army, known as the Artesh, operates within a complex dual-military structure. Under Articles 143 and 150 of the Iranian Constitution, the Artesh is responsible for defending the nation's independence and territorial integrity. In contrast, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is charged with protecting the Islamic Revolution and its achievements. This division is not merely symbolic; it manifests in a significant disparity in political and economic influence.
A profound rivalry exists between the two forces, driven by overlapping missions and uneven access to resources. The IRGC often enjoys greater funding and broader influence through its various business interests and affiliated institutions. This imbalance has led to operational constraints for the regular army. Reports from 2026 suggest that these supply shortages have even resulted in Artesh units facing critical deficits in ammunition, food, drinking water, and medical support.
The history of the Artesh is marked by periods of heavy foreign reliance and subsequent forced self-sufficiency. During the reign of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran's military industry was largely limited to assembling foreign equipment from firms like Bell and Northrop. Following the 1979 Revolution and subsequent U.S.-led arms embargoes, the Iranian armed forces were forced to maintain large stocks of American-built weaponry without outside help. This necessity drove the development of a domestic arms industry, which began with the reverse engineering of Soviet equipment like the RPG-7 and SAM-7 missiles in 1979.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Islamic Republic of Iran Army
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