How Iran’s parallel armies and intelligence services protect the regime
Iran operates a deliberately complex military structure designed to prevent coups and absorb shocks. The country maintains two parallel armies—the regular Artesh and the ideological Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—alongside multiple intelligence services and layered command structures, all ultimately answering to the Supreme Leader. The IRGC's Aerospace Force controls Iran's missile and drone arsenal, whilst the Quds Force manages regional networks across Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq. The system has proven resilient even after the killing of senior commanders, though its ability to adapt to faster, more complex challenges remains uncertain. Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem explains. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://ift.tt/UnyYIpH Check our website: https://ift.tt/lafYyFQ Check out our Instagram page: https://ift.tt/B9U1yXw Download AJE Mobile App: https://ift.tt/R8juyHw #IranMilitary #IRGC #Artesh #QudsForce #IranSecurity #SupremeLeader #IranArmedForces #IranianArmy #Basij #AerospaceForce #IranDefence #MiddleEastMilitary #IranPowerStructure #IranExplainer #Tehran #MilitaryStrategy #IranDeterrence #ParallelArmies
via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lFjBEp4fpE
Published on YouTube: How Iran’s parallel armies and intelligence services protect the regime
March 17, 2026
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