How strong is Iranian Guards? Can it face US military?

Can the IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) confront the US military? (File Image)

After President Donald Trump warned that the US military could take action in Iran if the government resorted to further crackdowns against protesters, and the government led by Massoud Pezeshkian threatened retaliation, big questions emerged: how strong the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is and whether they can resist the US military, at least to some extent. Although the IRGC is not a regular army, it is stronger than any army could ever be. The Revolutionary Guard is an elite military and security force in Iran that operates separately from the regular Iranian Army and reports directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It has its own ground forces, navy, air component, intelligence weapons and missile forces.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC

Founded as a military branch by Ruhollah Khomeini in May 1979 following the Iranian Revolution, the Revolutionary Guard is a multi-service main branch of the Iranian Armed Forces. Also known as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, this organization is under the direct control of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It has around 125,000 personnel with its own land forces, navy, air force, intelligence weapons and missile forces. With the help of the powerful volunteer militia under its control, the Basij can mobilize hundreds of thousands of people in emergency situations.

(Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps)

The Revolutionary Guard, which is not a regular army, has developed itself as an expert in asymmetric warfare, and its operations include controlling smuggling, controlling the Strait of Hormuz and resistance operations. Its main goal is to complement the more traditional role of the regular Iranian army, and the two forces operate separately and focus on different operational roles.

IRGC vs US army

However, as an asymmetric power, it has ballistic missiles that can hit regional targets and US forces stationed in the Gulf. Additionally, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, which has fast attack boats, anti-ship missiles, and naval mines, can disrupt shipping and threaten U.S. Navy operations through chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz. There are also unmanned aerial vehicles and missile forces, and these are used against regional enemies. Proxy networks such as the Quds Force could also be pressed into service and wreak havoc in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Syria.

(Can IRGC close the Strait of Hormuz?)

However, despite all these assets and opportunities, the Revolutionary Guard is no match for the US army and does not pose a serious and decisive threat to Washington and its bases in the Middle East. Washington may have a military widely regarded as the world’s most powerful power, with unmatched air power, naval power (including multiple aircraft carriers), advanced surveillance and strike capabilities, precision weapons, and global logistics. It outperforms the Iranian military by almost all conventional measurements. The best thing the Revolutionary Guard can do is attack US bases in the Middle East and cause them some damage. It could also close the Strait of Hormuz, stopping the flow of oil and dealing a blow to the world economy to some extent.