User:Aliesy13/Imperial Army of Iran

The Imperial Army of Iran or Artesh-e Shahanshahi-e Iran () was the main body of Iran's armed forces during the Pahlavi era. The main duty of the army was to maintain territorial integrity and defend the country against foreign military invasion. The Imperial Army was founded by Reza Shah Pahlavi because during the Qajar era, Iran was deprived of the blessing of a unified, trained and centralized army. Following the announcement of the army's neutrality on 22 Bahman 1357, 26 days after the Shah's departure from Iran, the Iranian revolution finally took place and the Pahlavi dynasty was overthrown. After the revolution, many high-ranking officers and staff of the imperial army were executed. The modernization and strengthening of the army was accelerated during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah. By the Shah's direct order, the Imperial Air Force was equipped with the purchase of F-14 fighters and other modern American fighter planes, which greatly helped Iran in the Iran-Iraq war. By purchasing warships, the army's navy had reached the power to take control of the Persian Gulf alone. The ground forces of the army powerfully suppressed the separatist groups and put an end to the uprising in Azerbaijan. The imperial army firmly established national sovereignty throughout Iran. (The Imperial Army was considered the fifth most powerful military force in the world until 1357)