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It is a Comparative Analysis of Military Strengths of Iran and Israel; Shares military doctrines, conventional armed forces, missile arsenals and air defense systems.
Who Is More Powerful: Iran or Israel? The Middle East remains one of the most geopolitically volatile regions in the world, and two of its most militarily potent states—Iran and Israel—continue to stand as strategic adversaries. Each has developed distinct military capabilities tailored to their respective security doctrines, geographic realities, ideological objectives, and external alliances. Israel, backed by advanced Western technology and strategic cooperation with the United States, maintains one of the most modern and agile militaries in the world.
Iran is restricted by sanctions and lacking Western alliances. Yet, it has developed asymmetric strategies and robust regional proxy networks to counterbalance conventional limitations. While Biden Administration had previously opposed any attacks on nuclear sites within Iran. Yet, Israel has attacked Iran.
Therefore, we present a comprehensive and detailed comparison of the military strengths of Iran and Israel, assessing their respective capabilities across conventional forces, missile technology, nuclear potential, cyber warfare, intelligence, and regional influence.
1. Military Doctrine and Strategic Goals
The military doctrine of both countries is significantly opposing to each other.
Iran
Iran’s military strategy revolves around asymmetric warfare, deterrence, and regional influence. Due to international sanctions and technological limitations, Iran focuses on missile proliferation, proxy warfare through non-state actors (e.g., Hezbollah, Houthis, Shi’a militias in Iraq and Syria), and defending against regime change. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), especially its elite Quds Force, plays a central role in external operations and ideological defense of the regime.
Israel
Israel’s strategy is built on the doctrine of “preemptive defense” and technological superiority. It aims to prevent regional adversaries from gaining strategic parity, notably through air superiority, intelligence dominance, and the ability to carry out precision strikes. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are structured for rapid mobilization and multi-domain warfare, with an emphasis on high-tech innovation, deterrence, and survivability.
2. Conventional Armed Forces
Who Is More Powerful: Iran or Israel? The arms and military expenditure between Israel and Iran is significantly different. Iran has a significant advantage over Israel in the conventional armed forces.
Iranian Armed Forces
Iran maintains two parallel military institutions:
- Artesh (regular military): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force
- IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps): Includes its own ground forces, naval, aerospace, and Quds Force units.
Personnel:
- Total military personnel: 610,000 (including conscripts)
- Ground forces: 350,000 (IRGC and Artesh)
- Air force: 30,000
- Navy (combined): 40,000
Equipment:
- Tanks: 1,600 (mostly outdated T-72s, Chieftains, and reverse-engineered models)
- Aircraft: 330 combat aircraft (MiG-29, Su-24, outdated F-4 and F-14 from pre-revolution era)
- Naval vessels: 3 destroyers, several submarines, speedboats for swarming tactics
Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
Israel’s military is modern, compact, and highly integrated, with universal conscription and rapid reserve mobilization.
Personnel:
- Active military: 170,000
- Reserve: 465,000 (with varying levels of readiness)
- Ground forces: 130,000
- Air Force: 35,000
- Navy: 10,000
Equipment:
- Tanks: 1,600 Merkava main battle tanks
- Aircraft: Over 600 military aircraft, including 90+ F-35I “Adir” stealth fighters, F-15, and F-16 variants
- Naval vessels: 6 Dolphin-class submarines (possibly nuclear-capable), corvettes, missile boats
3. Missile and Rocket Capabilities
Who Is More Powerful: Iran or Israel? Israel has a significant advantage over Iran in terms of missile and rocket capabilities.
Iran
Iran has the largest ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East, comprising short-range, medium-range, and potentially intermediate-range missiles.
- Shahab series (I–III) and Sejjil missiles with ranges up to 2,000 km
- Fateh-110, Zolfaghar, Emad, Khorramshahr
- Mass production of drones (Shahed-129, Mohajer series, and kamikaze drones like Shahed-136)
- Significant rocket artillery and missile capabilities used via proxies (e.g., Hezbollah’s ~130,000 rockets)
Israel
Israel has a smaller but more accurate and technologically advanced missile and rocket system.
- Jericho missile series (nuclear-capable ICBMs, range up to 6,500 km, unconfirmed)
- Delilah cruise missile, LORA, Spike NLOS
- Advanced drone fleet and UCAVs
- Emphasis on missile defense rather than offensive missile proliferation
4. Missile Defense and Air Defense Systems
Who Is More Powerful: Iran or Israel? Israel has flaunted its Iron Dome as one of the most advanced protection systems in the air defense strategies.
Iran
- Limited air defense systems: S-300 (Russian), Bavar-373 (indigenous system modeled after S-300)
- Older Russian-made Tor-M1, Hawk systems
- Primary strategy involves saturation attacks to overwhelm defense
Israel
Multi-layered missile defense shield, considered among the best in the world:
- Iron Dome: Short-range rocket interceptor (90%+ success rate)
- David’s Sling: Medium-range threats
- Arrow 2 & 3: Long-range ballistic missile interceptors
- Iron Beam: Directed-energy system in development/testing
5. Nuclear Capabilities
Israel is an unannounced nuclear power in the world. On the other hand, Iran is expected to become a nuclear power in the near future.
Iran
- Officially denies possessing nuclear weapons, remains a non-nuclear weapons state under the NPT
- Uranium enrichment capabilities have progressed significantly (60%+ purity reported)
- Western intelligence suggests Iran is approaching “threshold nuclear state” status
- Heavy water reactors, centrifuge installations at Natanz and Fordow
Israel
- Unofficial nuclear power (policy of deliberate ambiguity)
- Estimated stockpile of 90–400 nuclear warheads
- Delivery systems via Jericho III ICBMs, submarines (second-strike capability), and aircraft
- Not a signatory to the NPT
6. Cyber Warfare and Electronic Capabilities
Israel is one of the top countries for the cyber technology in the world. On the other hand, Iran is only able to get some advancements through its cooperation with Russia, China and North Korea.
Iran
- Considerable investment in offensive cyber units (e.g., APT33, APT34)
- Cyberattacks against U.S., Israeli, and Gulf targets
- Capable of disrupting infrastructure, spreading disinformation, and espionage
Israel
- Global leader in cyber defense and offense
- Units like Unit 8200 are renowned for intelligence collection, hacking, and counter-cyber operations
- Suspected of deploying Stuxnet against Iranian nuclear facilities (in collaboration with the U.S.)
7. Intelligence and Special Forces
The intelligence operations of Israel have shown its strong presence in the region. On the other hand, Iran seems to have much limited strength when it comes to intelligence based operations.
Iran
- IRGC-Quds Force: Operates abroad, orchestrates proxy networks, conducts covert operations
- Intelligence Ministry (MOIS) and IRGC Intelligence Organization active in foreign espionage
Israel
- Mossad: Premier intelligence agency for foreign operations; widely credited with high-profile assassinations and sabotage in Iran
- Shin Bet: Domestic intelligence
- Sayeret Matkal: Elite special forces unit
8. Regional Influence and Proxy Networks
Both Iran and Israel continue to use proxy networks in their warfare. For instance, Iran has provided strong support to militias and fighters in the Middle East. Similarly, Israel has used Indian Agents in Iran to conduct ground operations.
Iran
Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” includes:
- Hezbollah (Lebanon)
- Popular Mobilization Forces (Iraq)
- Houthis (Yemen)
- Militias in Syria and Gaza (e.g., Islamic Jihad)
Iran utilizes these actors to project power and destabilize adversaries, forming a “ring of fire” around Israel
Israel
- Lacks direct proxy networks but maintains military and intelligence ties with regional states opposed to Iranian influence (e.g., UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia)
- Abraham Accords have further solidified strategic depth and intelligence sharing
Who Is More Powerful: Iran or Israel?
The military strengths of Iran and Israel differ significantly in structure, doctrine, and capabilities. Israel possesses a technologically superior and agile military, backed by a robust defense industry, nuclear deterrence, and formidable intelligence assets. Iran, by contrast, compensates for its technological lag through a mix of asymmetric strategies, regional proxies, and a rapidly evolving missile and drone program.
While a direct military confrontation between the two poses grave regional consequences, both nations continued to engage in shadow warfare, with covert attacks, cyber operations, and proxy conflicts playing out across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and even the Gulf until June 13, 2025. The evolving military dynamics of Iran and Israel underscore the precarious balance of power in the Middle East and the enduring threat of escalation into broader conflict.
