00:01.
00:19Most countries have one military.
00:22Iran has two.
00:24Alongside its conventional army stands the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,
00:30a parallel force created not just to defend the nation, but to defend the regime itself.
00:37In a moment of rising regional tension, the balance between these two forces could shape how Iran fights and who
00:46truly holds power.
00:48Iran's traditional armed forces are known as the Artesh.
00:52Like most national militaries, its role is straightforward – defend Iran's borders, territory, and sovereignty.
01:00It includes the army, navy, and air force, and operates through the Ministry of Defense.
01:06Its focus is conventional warfare – tanks, aircraft, naval patrols, and territorial defense.
01:13Politically, it plays a limited role.
01:16The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is different.
01:20It was created after the 1979 revolution because Iran's new leaders did not fully trust the old military.
01:29The IRGC answers directly to the supreme leader, not the defense ministry.
01:35It has its own army, navy, and air arm, plus specialized units.
01:41The Quds Force handles overseas operations and support for allied groups.
01:46The besieged militia enforces internal security and suppresses dissent.
01:52For the regime, the IRGC is not just a military force – it's a political shield.
01:59The divide between the two forces is strategic.
02:02The Artesh defends the nation.
02:05The IRGC defends the system.
02:08While the regular army stays largely out of politics, the IRGC holds vast economic interests,
02:16controls major industries, and influences national decision-making.
02:20It also plays a central role in Iran's proxy strategy across the Middle East.
02:26That combination of military, economic, and ideological power makes it one of the most influential institutions in Iran.
02:35Both forces ultimately answer to Iran's leadership.
02:39But analysts say loyalty to the supreme leader is strongest within the IRGC because its mission is built around protecting
02:49the revolution itself.
02:50The Artesh fights for the country.
02:53The IRGC fights for the regime.
02:57And in times of crisis, that distinction can matter more than military strength alone.
03:03In Iran, power doesn't rest only on weapons.
03:07It rests on who controls them and who they are sworn to protect.
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