Iran spans an area of approximately 1,648,195 square kilometers (636,372 square miles), making it the sixth-largest country entirely in Asia and the second largest in West Asia. It is situated between latitudes 24° and 40° N and longitudes 44° and 64° E. The country shares borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan (including the Nakhichevan exclave), Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Turkey. To the north, it is bordered by the Caspian Sea, while to the south, it lies along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Iran sits in a seismically active region, experiencing an earthquake of magnitude seven on the Richter scale approximately once every decade. Many of these earthquakes are shallow focus, making them particularly destructive, as seen in the 2003 Bam earthquake.
Geographically, Iran is dominated by the Iranian Plateau and is one of the most mountainous nations in the world. The western regions are particularly rugged, with major mountain ranges including the Caucasus, Zagros, and Alborz. Mount Damavand, at 5,610 meters (18,406 feet), is Iran’s highest peak and the tallest volcano in Asia. Historically, Iran's mountainous terrain has influenced both its political and economic structures.
The northern part of the country is home to the dense, green Caspian Hyrcanian forests near the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. In contrast, the eastern region consists largely of arid desert basins, such as the Kavir Desert—the largest desert in Iran—and the Lut Desert, which holds the record for the highest surface temperature ever recorded on Earth at 70.7°C (159.3°F) in 2005. Several salt lakes are also scattered throughout these arid landscape Iran’s climates varies significantly across different regions, ranging from arid and semi-arid conditions to subtropical climates along the Caspian coast and northern forests. In the northern areas, temperatures rarely drop below freezing, and the climate remains humid year-round, with summer temperatures typically not exceeding 29°C (84.2°F). Annual precipitation in the eastern part of this region reaches around 680 mm (26.8 inches), while the western areas receive over 1,700 mm (66.9 inches) of rainfall.
The Zagros basin in the west experiences' colder temperatures, with harsh winters marked by freezing conditions and heavy snowfall. Meanwhile, the east and central basins are arid, receiving less than 200 mm (7.9 inches) of annual rainfall and featuring stretches of desert terrain. Summer temperatures in these regions generally remain below 38°C (100.4°F).
Along the southern coastal plains near the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, winters are mild, while summers are hot and humid. Precipitation levels vary between 135 and 355 mm (5.3 to 14 inches) annually. Iran faces significant water scarcity issues, with the UN Resident Coordinator describing it as the most severe human security challenge in the country today Iran's military operates under a unified system known as the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, which includes several branches. The Islamic Republic of Iran Army consists of the Ground Forces, Air Defense Force, Air Force, and Navy, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) oversees its own Ground Forces, Aerospace Force, Navy, Quds Force, and the Basij. Additionally, the Police Command (Faraja) functions similarly to a gendarmerie. The IRIAF is responsible for safeguarding national sovereignty through conventional military means, while the IRGC is tasked with protecting the Republic from external threats, potential coups, and internal unrest. Military service has been mandatory for all male citizens aged 18 since 1925, requiring approximately 14 months of service in either the IRIAF or IRGC.
With a combined force of over one million personnel—including 610,000 active-duty troops and around 350,000 reservists—Iran ranks among the nations with the highest proportion of military-trained citizens. The paramilitary Basij, a volunteer militia within the IRGC, comprises over 20 million members, with 600,000 available for immediate deployment, 300,000 reserves, and an additional one million personnel who can be mobilized as needed. Iran’s uniformed police force, Faraja, has more than 260,000 active officers, though many global military rankings exclude Basij and Faraja from their assessments.
Despite excluding these paramilitary forces, Iran is recognized as a major military power due to its large and capable armed forces. It holds the 14th position globally in military strength, ranking 13th in overall capability, 7th in active personnel, and 9th in both ground and armored forces. Iran’s military is the largest in West Asia and has the most extensive Army Aviation fleet in the Middle East. The country also ranks among the top 15 nations in terms of military expenditure, increasing its defense budget to $24.6 billion in 2021, equating to 2.3% of its GDP, with the IRGC receiving 34% of total military funding.
Since the 1979 Revolution, Iran has developed its domestic defense industry to bypass foreign embargoes, producing indigenous tanks, armored vehicles, missiles, submarines, radar systems, helicopters, naval vessels, and fighter jets. The country has made significant advancements in rocketry, possessing the most diverse ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East and ranking as the world’s sixth-largest missile power. Iran is one of only five nations with hypersonic missile technology and is regarded as a global leader in drone warfare, manufacturing a wide array of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Additionally, Iran is among the world’s top five nations in cyberwarfare capabilities, often described as a highly active player in international cyber operations. Since the early 2000s, Iran has also emerged as a significant arms exporter.
Following Russia’s acquisition of Iranian drones during its invasion of Ukraine, Iran secured agreements in late 2023 to obtain Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters, air defense systems, and missile technology. The Iranian Navy has conducted joint military exercises with both Russia and China, further strengthening its international defense collaborations.