Imperial Iranian Army

Islamic Republic of Iran Army
ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران (Persian)
Seal of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army
Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army
Motto	Arabic: وَإِنَّ جُنْدنَا لَهُمْ الْغَالِبُونَ‎‎ "And Our Soldiers, They Verily Would Be The Victors." [Quran 37:173] Persian: همه برای یکی، یکی برای همه، همه برای ایران‎‎ All for one, One for all, All for Iran Persian: ارتش فدای ملت، ارتش برای ملت‎‎ Army Sacrificed for the Nation, Army For the Nation
Founded	Early 1st millennium BC; c. 3000 years ago (first archeologically documented army) 1921; 96 years ago (1921) (first unified army in modern history)
Current form	1979; 38 years ago (1979) (Islamic Republic)
Service branches	Joint Staff (SEMAJA) Ground Forces (NEZAJA) Air Force (NAHAJA) Navy (NEDAJA) Air Defense Base (PADAJA)
Headquarters	Tehran, Iran
Website	aja.ir
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	Amir Sarlashkar A. Salehi
Branch Commanders	Amir Sartip K. Heydari (Ground Force) Amir Sartip H. Shahsafi (Air Force) Amir Daryadar H. Sayyari (Navy) Amir Sartip F. Esmaili (Air Defense)
Manpower
Military age	18
Conscription	21 months
Active personnel	Classified MEI estimate (2011): 420,000 350,000 (Ground Force) 37,000 (Air Force) 18,000 (Navy) 15,000 (Air Defense)
Expenditures
Budget	$2,036.91 million (1395 SH)
Related articles
History	Military history of Iran History of the Iranian Air Force History of the Iranian Navy
Ranks	Army Air Force Navy Air Defense

Classified

The Islamic Republic of Iran Army (Persian: ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران‎‎) acronymed AJA (Persian: آجا‎‎), simply known as the Iranian Army or Artesh (Persian: ارتش‎‎ Arteš), is the "conventional military of Iran" and part of Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The army is tasked to protect the territorial integrity of the Iranian state from external and internal threats and to project power. Artesh has its own Joint Staff which coordinates its four separate service branches: Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy and the newly established Air Defense Base.

The Iranian government makes a show of military force on Iran Army Day with parades every 18 April, often demonstrating new defense technologies.

The former Supreme Leader of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini named 18 April as Army Day, calling for military parades to exhibit the nation's military preparedness. The Iranian military honors the country's National Army Day by annual military parading in many cities of Iran every 18th day of April. The biggest march is held in front of the mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini.