At the new threshold for nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US, we are still witnessing exaggerated statements from false Israeli regime leaders and officials levelled against Iran. With a history of human rights disasters, including the murder of innocent children and crimes against humanity, Israel’s criminal administration has fostered tensions with Iran’s Islamic Republic by threatening military attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Given the increasing threat and the likelihood of military conflict, it is natural that many experts and people ask. Does the Crime Zionist regime have the ability to destroy Iran’s defense and nuclear infrastructure? And if it makes such a mistake, what kind of reaction will it receive from Iran?
This issue requires careful investigation of both military capabilities, increasing the need for strategic preparation and the possibility of Iranian response.
As one of the leading players in the Western Asian military scene, Iran’s Islamic Republic holds a key position in the ranking of military power at both the Asian and international levels. Despite restrictions caused by sanctions and lack of defense budgets, Iran has missile forces, indigenous defense industry, and a unique strategic position, and remains one of the military magnets of the region and the world.
But what is Iran’s rank among the world and Asian countries, and what is its defense and military strength?
For more details, take a closer look at Iran’s military situation.
Iran is also known as one of the military forces in the West Asia region in 2023, according to a report published by the American Institute of Global Firepower (GFP), which compares and ranks the military powers of countries around the world each year. The report shows that Iran has superior power compared to the Zionist regimes compared to countries such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Iran’s Islamic Republic ranks seventh in Asia in terms of military deterrence, but third from the first place is held by countries such as Russia, China and India. Also, the honorable institute reports that Iran is both high and has an advantage over countries such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the field of Zionist regimes and military power.
Iran’s military budget: “One-third of countries in West Asia”
This study shows that the above countries are the largest producers and buyers of military weapons in the region and define power based on this force. For example, according to the institute, Saudi Arabia’s military budget for 2020 alone reached $56 billion. Furthermore, the defense source said that India’s defense budget for the same year was $61 billion.
Israeli government’s Defense Budget in 2025
On November 3, 2024, the Israeli Cabinet approved the government’s controversial budget proposal for 2025. The budget includes a series of tax increases and spending cuts to cover the costs of the war with Gaza. This is a war with uncertain outcomes that have entered its second year, and Zionists still demand that it be put an end.
The Zionist regime has been forced to increase billions of military spending to cover the costs of the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, but the majority of the Israeli regime’s economy has declined sharply due to a shortage of workers.
On the same day, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made a statement. “The main goal of the 2025 budget is to maintain the strength of the Israeli economy while maintaining the security of the country and achieving victory in all respects.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said the defense budget could increase further by adding funds to the budget before it is approved by Congress in January, or through supplemental budgets that will be approved later. Previously, Smotrich said that despite spending reaching 100 billion shekels ($27.5 billion) in 2025, the military budget was not open in 2025.
Former Israeli Prime Minister and opposition Prime Minister, Ia Rapid, struck the budget, saying it would increase the annual cost of each family in the Israeli regime by 20,000 shekels.
Opposition leaders believe this budget, which maintains extremist flow spending in Netanyahu’s far-right coalition (including Haredi), is detrimental to Zionists’ livelihoods.
Ranking of Iran’s military power in Asia and the world
Rankings of Iran’s military power in Asia and the world depend on a variety of factors, including the number of military forces, defense budgets, military equipment, technical capabilities, defense industry capabilities, strategic location and operational capabilities. It is possible to assess the general position of Iran’s military power based on reports and analysis conducted by various sources (such as the Global Firepower Institute), as well as current political and economic conditions.
Ranking of Iran’s military power in the world
According to a 2023 report, Iran is usually ranked 13th to 15th in the world. This ranking is calculated based on a variety of criteria, including:
1. Number of troops: There are active troops and around 400,000 reserves, ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 percent of Iran’s population. This number is considered one of Iran’s strengths, taking into account the country’s population.
2. Military Equipment: Iran has a variety of military equipment, including tanks, artillery, ballistic and cruise missiles, submarines, and air fleets.
3. Missile Capacity: Iran’s Islamic Republic is one of the most powerful countries in the world in terms of producing and launching ballistic and cruise missiles. This is recognized as one of the country’s main military strengths.
4. Local Defense Industry: Iran is able to develop a domestic defense industry and produces a variety of military equipment locally under sanctions. This ability helped countries resist international sanctions.
5. Strategic Location: Iran’s geographical location in the Western Asia region and its control of the Strait of Hormuz plays an important role in the country’s military power.
6. Defense budget: Iran’s defense budget is much lower than the defense budgets of countries such as the US, China and Russia. This is due to economic sanctions and internal financial issues, not comparable to the incredible budgets that some countries allocate to their troops.
Ranking of Iran’s military power in Asia
In Asia, Iran is usually ranked 8th from the 6th. This ranking shows that Iran is considered one of the most militarily powerful countries in the Asian region, but it ranks lower compared to countries such as China, India and Russia.
Iran’s defense and military strength:
Missile Capacity: Iran has one of the largest and most diverse missile capabilities in the world. Geographical location: Control of the Strait of Hormuz and access to the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf transformed Iran into a key player in the region. Local defense industry: The ability to produce military equipment under sanctions is one of Iran’s strengths. Multiple Armed Forces: Iran has military forces (Army, IRGC, Ministry of Defense), law enforcement, and popular mobilization forces that can play an important role in times of crisis.
Despite all these characteristics, Iran is known as one of the military forces of the West Asia region and the world’s largest powers, according to the approval of experts and leaders of the world, and its special capabilities, such as missile powers and strategic locations, have made Iran an important player on the international stage.
Comparing Iran’s defense budget with regional countries
Research shows that in the West Asia region, Zionist regimes and Saudi Arabia spend most of their budgets on the purchase and development of military weapons. However, despite widespread sanctions and international pressure, Iran has sometimes outperformed many countries with low budgets.
– Iran’s Defense Budget (2023): Approximately $19 billion (equivalent to one-third of the regional country’s budget).
– Israeli Defense Budget (2023): Approximately $26 billion (excluding US military aid, which is $3.8 billion per year).
– Saudi Arabia’s Defense Budget (2023): Approximately $57 billion.
– Pakistan’s Defense Budget (2023): Approximately $11 billion.
Iran’s advances in the defense industry
One of Iran’s most important achievements in the military field is the development of the indigenous defense industry and the reduction of its dependence on foreign equipment. This issue becomes even more important in the context of international sanctions.
Some important achievements:
1. Missiles and Air Defence Systems:
– Iran was able to indigenously produce advanced ballistic and cruise missiles such as Khorramshahr, Fateh, Zolfaghar, Shahab.
– Air defense systems such as the Bavar-373 (equivalent to Iran, equivalent to the S-300) and Mersad are also achievements in this field.
2. Marine Industry:
– Islamic Iran has successfully built modern submarines such as Fate and Gadir.
– Indigenous frigates such as Dena and Sand are other achievements in the field.
3. Drone:
– Iran has become one of the world’s leading forces in the production and use of military drones. Drones such as the Shahed-129, Karrar, Kaman 12, Kaman 22, Arsh, Gaza, Futros, and Shahed-191 are among the most well-known products in the field.
4. Mild and heavy weapons:
– Iran was able to produce a variety of light and heavy weapons in the country. Among these achievements are the tanks of Karrar and Zolfaqar.
5. Air Force:
– Iran was able to produce a variety of light and heavy weapons in the country. Among these achievements are the tanks of Karrar and Zolfaqar.
Iran’s position in the West Asia region
According to Iran’s 20-year vision documents, our country should become the main military force of the West Asia region by 1404 (2025). Given the recent developments and achievements in the defense industry, Iran is currently ranked second in the region after Turkey. However, given the significant growth of Iran’s defense industry, this goal could be achieved sooner than the horizon mentioned above.
MNA