Ranks of the armed forces of Iran

This article shows the ranks of the armed forces of Iran . The armed forces consist of the regular army of the Islamic Republic of Iran ( Persian نیروهای مسلح جمهوری اسلامی ایران); Artesch for short ( Persian ارتش, DMG Artesch , 'army') with its four armed forces, army , navy , air force and air defense, as well as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard ( Persian ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران, DMG Sepah Pasdaran Enghaleb Islam-e , 'Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution ') or also called Pasdaran .

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  Badge of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran.

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  Badge of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

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  Collar tab of an Iranian general ( Sardar ) of the army.

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  Collar tab of an Iranian general ( Sardar ) of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

army

Officers

Officers
approximate NATO rank code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Epaulette (illustration)
equivalent German rank	Field Marshal General	general	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigade general	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	major	Captain	top lieutenant	lieutenant	sub- lieutenant
Rank in Farsi	ارتشبد	سپهبد	سرلشکر	سرتیپ	سرتیپ دوم	سرهنگ	سرهنگ دوم	سرگرد	سروان	ستوان یکم	ستوان دوم	ستوان سوم
Transliteration	Arteschbod	Sepahbod	Sarlaschkar	Sartip-e Yekom	Sartip-e Dovom	Sarhang-e Yekom	Sarhang-e Dovom	Sargord	Sarvan	Sotvan-e Yekom	Sotvan-e Dovom	Sotvan-e Sevom
meaning	-	-	Division commander	first brigade commander	second brigade commander	first regimental commander	second regimental commander	-	-	first lieutenant	second lieutenant	third lieutenant
Description of the shoulder flap	Two crossed swords that enclose a wreath in which the stylized word Allah is written in the form of a tulip as the official symbol of the Islamic Republic of Iran.					Three …	Two …	A …	Four …	Three …	Two …	A …
	... and four five-pointed stars	... and three five-pointed stars	... and two five-pointed stars	... and a five-pointed star		... eight-pointed star (s).			... five-pointed star (s).

Footnotes

1. ↑ ^{a b} Rank is currently not used.

NCOs and men

NCOs and men
approximate NATO rank code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Upper arm patch (image)
equivalent German rank	Sergeant Major	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant Major	Oberfeldwebel / Feldwebel	Staff NCO / NCO	Oberstabsgefreiter / Stabsgefreiter	Hauptgefreiter / Obergefreiter	Private	soldier
Rank in Farsi	استوار یکم	استوار دوم	گروهبان یکم	گروهبان دوم	گروهبان سوم	سرجوخه	سرباز یکم	سرباز دوم	سربازسوم
Transliteration	Ostovar-e Yekom	Ostovar-e Dovom	Gorouhban-e Yekom	Gorouhban-e Dovom	Gorouhban-e Sevom	Sarjoucheh	Sarbaz-e Yekom	Sarbaz-e Dovom	Sarbaz-e Sevom
Description of the sleeve patch	Three angles			Two angles.	An angle.	Four …	Three …	Two …	A …
	... and two semi-arches underneath.	... and a semi-arch underneath.				horizontal bar (s).

marine

Officers

All naval officers wear the same epaulettes as army officers, but with a gold pad. They also wear sleeve patches on their forearms.

Officers
approximate NATO rank code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5 senior	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Shoulder flap and sleeve patch (image)
equivalent German rank	admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Flotilla admiral	Commodore	Sea captain	Frigate captain	Corvette captain	Skipper lieutenant	First lieutenant at sea	Lieutenant at sea	sub- lieutenant
Rank in Farsi	دریابد	دریاسالار	دریابان	دریادار	دریادار دوم	ناخدا یکم	ناخدا دوم	ناخدا سوم	ناوسروان	ناوبان یکم	ناوبان دوم	ناوبان سوم
Transliteration	Daryabod	Daryasalar	Daryaban	Daryādār	Daryādār Dovom	Nachoda-e Yekom	Nachoda-e Dovom	Nachoda-e Sevom	Nav Sarvan	Navban-e Yekom	Navban-e Dovom	Navban-e Sevom
meaning	-	-	x- commander	first x- commander	second x- commander	first x- commander	second x- commander	-	-	first lieutenant at sea	second lieutenant at sea	third lieutenant at sea
Description of the shoulder flap	Two crossed swords that enclose a wreath in which the stylized word Allah is written in the form of a tulip as the official symbol of the Islamic Republic of Iran.					like sleeve patches
	... and under it four five-pointed stars.	... and underneath three five-pointed stars.	... and underneath two five-pointed stars.	... and underneath a five-pointed star.
Description of the arm patch	A wide strip with ..
	with four narrow strips above (the top one with a loop).	with three narrow stripes above (the top one with a loop).	with two narrow strips above (the top one with a loop).	with a narrow strip above with a loop.	with a loop above it.	Four narrow strips (the top one with a loop).	A narrow strip with a loop over a very narrow and two narrow strips.	Three narrow strips (the top one with a loop).	A narrow strip with a loop over a very narrow and another narrow strip.	Two narrow strips, the top one with a loop.	A narrow strip with a loop.	A narrow strip.

Footnotes

1. ↑ ^{a b} Rank is currently not used.

NCOs and men

NCOs and men
approximate NATO rank code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Upper arm patch (image)
equivalent German rank	Chief of Staff	Staff Captain	Chief Boatswain	Captain / Boatswain	Chief Mate / Mate	Oberstabsgefreiter / Stabsgefreiter	Hauptgefreiter / Obergefreiter	Private	sailor
Rank in Farsi	ناواستوار یکم	ناواستوار دوم	مهناوی یکم	مهناوی دوم	مهناوی سوم	سرناوی	ناوی یکم	ناوی دوم	ناوی
Transliteration	Nav Ostavar Yekom	Nav Ostavar Dovom	Mahnâvi Yekom	Mahnâvi Dovom	Mahnâvi Sevom	Sarnâvi	Nâvi Yekom	Nâvi Dovom	Nâvi
Description of the sleeve patch	Three angles			Two angles.	An angle.	Four …	Three …	Two …	A …
	... and two semi-arches underneath.	... and a semi-arch underneath.				horizontal bar (s).

Air Force

Officers

Officers
approximate NATO rank code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Epaulette (illustration)
equivalent German rank	Field Marshal	general	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigade general	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	major	Captain	top lieutenant	lieutenant	sub- lieutenant
Rank in Farsi	ارتشبد	سپهبد	سرلشکر	سرتیپ	سرتیپ دوم	سرهنگ	سرهنگ دوم	سرگرد	سروان	ستوان یکم	ستوان دوم	ستوان سوم
Transliteration	Arteshbod	Sepahbod	Sarlashkar	Sartip-e Yekom	Sartip-e Dovom	Sarhang-e Yekom	Sarhang-e Dovom	Sargord	Sarvan	Sotvan-e Yekom	Sotvan-e Dovom	Sotvan-e Sevom
meaning	-	-	Division commander	first brigade commander	second brigade commander	first regimental commander	second regimental commander	-	-	first lieutenant	second lieutenant	third lieutenant
Description of the shoulder flap	Two crossed swords that enclose a wreath in which the stylized word Allah is written in the form of a tulip as the official symbol of the Islamic Republic of Iran.					Three …	Two …	A …	Four …	Three …	Two …	A …
	... and four five-pointed stars	... and three five-pointed stars	... and two five-pointed stars	... and a five-pointed star		... eight-pointed star (s).			... five-pointed star (s).

Footnotes

1. ↑ ^{a b} Rank is currently not used.

NCOs and men

NCOs and men
approximate NATO rank code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Upper arm patch (image)
equivalent German rank	Sergeant Major	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant Major	Oberfeldwebel / Feldwebel	Staff NCO / NCO	Oberstabsgefreiter / Stabsgefreiter	Hauptgefreiter / Obergefreiter	Private	Aviator
Rank in Farsi	استوار یکم	استوار دوم	گروهبان یکم	گروهبان دوم	گروهبان سوم	سرجوخه	سرباز یکم	سرباز دوم	سربازسوم
Transliteration	Ostovar-e Yekom	Ostovar-e Dovom	Gorouhban-e Yekom	Gorouhban-e Dovom	Gorouhban-e Sevom	Sarjoukheh	Sarbaz-e Yekom	Sarbaz-e Dovom	Sarbaz-e Sevom
Description of the sleeve patch	Three angles			Two angles.	An angle.	Four …	Three …	Two …	A …
	... and two semi-arches underneath.	... and a semi-arch underneath.				horizontal bar (s).

Air defense

In 2008, the air defense was spun off from the Air Force. The commander of this branch of service is a major general . The current head of this branch of the armed forces is the career officer Major General Farzad Esmaili ( Persian سرتیپ فرزاد اسماعیلی; * January 15, 1972).

Officers

Officers
approximate NATO rank code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Epaulette (illustration)
equivalent German rank	Field Marshal	general	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigade general	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	major	Captain	top lieutenant	lieutenant	sub- lieutenant
Rank in Farsi	ارتشبد	سپهبد	سرلشکر	سرتیپ	سرتیپ دوم	سرهنگ	سرهنگ دوم	سرگرد	سروان	ستوان یکم	ستوان دوم	ستوان سوم
Transliteration	Arteshbod	Sepahbod	Sarlashkar	Sartip-e Yekom	Sartip-e Dovom	Sarhang-e Yekom	Sarhang-e Dovom	Sargord	Sarvan	Sotvan-e Yekom	Sotvan-e Dovom	Sotvan-e Sevom
meaning	-	-	Division commander	first brigade commander	second brigade commander	first regimental commander	second regimental commander	-	-	first lieutenant	second lieutenant	third lieutenant
Description of the shoulder flap	Two crossed swords that enclose a wreath in which the stylized word Allah is written in the form of a tulip as the official symbol of the Islamic Republic of Iran.					Three …	Two …	A …	Four …	Three …	Two …	A …
	... and four five-pointed stars	... and three five-pointed stars	... and two five-pointed stars	... and a five-pointed star		... eight-pointed star (s).			... five-pointed star (s).

Footnotes

1. ↑ ^{a b c} Rank is currently not used.

NCOs and men

NCOs and men
approximate NATO rank code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Upper arm patch (image)
equivalent German rank	Sergeant Major	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant Major	Oberfeldwebel / Feldwebel	Staff NCO / NCO	Oberstabsgefreiter / Stabsgefreiter	Hauptgefreiter / Obergefreiter	Private	Aviator
Rank in Farsi	استوار یکم	استوار دوم	گروهبان یکم	گروهبان دوم	گروهبان سوم	سرجوخه	سرباز یکم	سرباز دوم	سرباز صفر
Transliteration	Ostovar-e Yekom	Ostovar-e Dovom	Gorouhban-e Yekom	Gorouhban-e Dovom	Gorouhban-e Sevom	Sarjoukheh	Sarbaz-e Yekom	Sarbaz-e Dovom	Sarbaz-e Sevom
Description of the sleeve patch	Three angles			Two angles.	An angle.	Four …	Three …	Two …	A …
	... and two semi-arches underneath.	... and a semi-arch underneath.				horizontal bar (s).

Iranian Revolutionary Guard

Officers

Officers
approximate NATO rank code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Epaulette (illustration)
equivalent German rank	Field Marshal	general	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigade general	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	major	Captain	top lieutenant	lieutenant	sub- lieutenant
Rank in Persian	ارتشبد	سپهبد پاسدار	سرلشکر پاسدار	سرتیپ پاسدار	سرتیپ دوم پاسدار	سرهنگ پاسدار	سرهنگ دوم پاسدار	سرگرد پاسدار	سروان پاسدار	ستوان یکم پاسدار	ستوان دوم پاسدار	ستوان سوم پاسدار
Transliteration	Arteschbod	Sepahbod	Sarlaschkar	Sartip-e Yekom	Sartip-e Dovom	Sarhang-e Yekom	Sarhang-e Dovom	Sargord	Sarvan	Sotvan-e Yekom	Sotvan-e Dovom	Sotvan-e Sevom
meaning	-	-	Division commander	first brigade commander	second brigade commander	first regimental commander	second regimental commander	-	-	first lieutenant	second lieutenant	third lieutenant
Description of the shoulder flap	Two crossed swords that enclose a wreath in which the stylized word Allah is written in the form of a tulip as the official symbol of the Islamic Republic of Iran.					Three …	Two …	A …	Four …	Three …	Two …	A …
	... and four octagonal stylized stars in oriental ornamentation.	... and three octagonal stylized stars in oriental ornamentation.	... and two octagonal stylized stars in oriental ornamentation.	... and an octagonal stylized star with oriental ornamentation.		... ten-pointed stylized star (s) in oriental ornamentation.			... octagonal stylized star (s) in oriental ornamentation.

Footnotes

1. ↑ ^{a b} Rank is currently not used.

NCOs and men

NCOs and men
approximate NATO rank code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Upper arm patch (image)
equivalent German rank	Sergeant Major	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant Major	Oberfeldwebel / Feldwebel	Staff NCO / NCO	Oberstabsgefreiter / Stabsgefreiter	Hauptgefreiter / Obergefreiter	Private	soldier
Rank in Farsi	رزم‌دار یکم	رزم‌دار دوم	رزم‌آور یکم	رزم‌آور دوم	رزم‌آور سوم	رزم‌یار	سرباز یکم	سرباز دوم	سربازسوم
Transliteration	Ostovar-e Yekom	Ostovar-e Dovom	Gorouhban-e Yekom	Gorouhban-e Dovom	Gorouhban-e Sevom	Sarjoukheh	Sarbaz-e Yekom	Sarbaz-e Dovom	Sarbaz-e Sevom
Description of the sleeve patches	Three crescent moons open downwards			Two crescent moons open downwards	A crescent moon open downwards.	An othala standing upside down
	... and two horizontal bars below.	... and a horizontal bar underneath.				... and three bars above it.	... and two bars above it.	... and a bar above it.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Overview of the Army ranks at uniforminsignia.com, accessed on: December 15, 2013.
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} According to DMG .
3. ↑ ^{a b} Overview of naval ranks at uniforminsignia.com, accessed on: December 15, 2013.
4. ↑ See IRGC Rank Insignia Guide.
5. ↑ See IRGC Rank Insignia Guide.
6. ↑ Air Defense Unit Added to Iran's Armed Forces, online article of the official FARS news Agency from February 15, 2009, accessed on December 15, 2013. ( Memento of the original from December 15, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatic used and not yet tested. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
7. ↑ ^{a b} is missing.
8. ↑ ^{a b} See IRGC Rank Insignia Guide.