Rank insignia of the Iranian military

This article tackes the ranks and insignia of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is divided into three forces:

• Islamic Republic of Iran Army or I.R.I. Army or in Persian ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران
• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or IRGC or in Persian سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی
• Law Enforcement Force of Islamic Republic of Iran

The IRIA is divided into four branches of service:

• Army ground forces
• Air force
• Air defense force
• Navy

Official military ranks

Iranian Army commissioned officers and enlisted ranks

Commissioned officer rank insignia of the Iranian Army
General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier general	Second brigadier general	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain	First lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Third lieutenant
Persian: ارتشبد‎‎	Persian: سپهبد‎‎	Persian: سرلشکر‎‎	Persian: سرتیپ‎‎	Persian: سرتیپ دوم‎‎	Persian: سرهنگ‎‎	Persian: سرهنگ دوم‎‎	Persian: سرگرد‎‎	Persian: سروان‎‎	Persian: ستوان یکم‎‎	Persian: ستوان دوم‎‎	Persian: ستوان سوم‎‎

Enlisted rank insignia of the Iranian Army
Command sergeant major	Sergeant major (staff)	Sergeant first class/First sergeant	Staff sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Private first class	Private (E-2)	Private
Persian: استوار یکم‎‎	Persian: استوار دوم‎‎	Persian: گروهبان یکم‎‎	Persian: گروهبان دوم‎‎	Persian: گروهبان سوم‎‎	Persian: سرجوخه‎‎	Persian: سرباز یکم‎‎	Persian: سرباز دوم‎‎	Persian: سرباز‎‎

Iranian Air Force commissioned officers and enlisted ranks

Commissioned officer rank insignia of the Iranian Air Force
General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier general	Second brigadier general	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain	First lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Third lieutenant
Persian: ارتشبد‎‎	Persian: سپهبد‎‎	Persian: سرلشکر‎‎	Persian: سرتیپ‎‎	Persian: سرتیپ دوم‎‎	Persian: سرهنگ‎‎	Persian: سرهنگ دوم‎‎	Persian: سرگرد‎‎	Persian: سروان‎‎	Persian: ستوان یکم‎‎	Persian: ستوان دوم‎‎	Persian: ستوان سوم‎‎

Enlisted rank insignia of the Iranian Air Force
Senior master sergeant	Master sergeant	Sergeant first class/first sergeant	Staff sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Airman first class	Airman	Airman basic
Persian: استوار یکم‎‎	Persian: استوار دوم‎‎	Persian: گروهبان یکم‎‎	Persian: گروهبان دوم‎‎	Persian: گروهبان سوم‎‎	Persian: سرجوخه‎‎	Persian: سرباز یکم‎‎	Persian: سرباز دوم‎‎	Persian: سرباز‎‎

Iranian Air ِDefense Force commissioned officers and enlisted ranks

Commissioned officer rank insignia of the Iranian Air Defense Force
General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier general	Second brigadier general	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain	First lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Third lieutenant
Persian: ارتشبد‎‎	Persian: سپهبد‎‎	Persian: سرلشکر‎‎	Persian: سرتیپ‎‎	Persian: سرتیپ دوم‎‎	Persian: سرهنگ‎‎	Persian: سرهنگ دوم‎‎	Persian: سرگرد‎‎	Persian: سروان‎‎	Persian: ستوان یکم‎‎	Persian: ستوان دوم‎‎	Persian: ستوان سوم‎‎

Enlisted rank insignia of the Iranian Air Defense Force
Senior master sergeant	Master sergeant	Sergeant first class/first sergeant	Staff sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Airman first class	Airman	Airman basic
Persian: استوار یکم‎‎	Persian: استوار دوم‎‎	Persian: گروهبان یکم‎‎	Persian: گروهبان دوم‎‎	Persian: گروهبان سوم‎‎	Persian: سرجوخه‎‎	Persian: سرباز یکم‎‎	Persian: سرباز دوم‎‎	Persian: سرباز‎‎

Iranian Navy commissioned officers and enlisted ranks

Commissioned officer rank insignia of the Iranian Navy (flag officers)
Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Flotilla admiral	Second flotilla admiral
Persian: دریابد‎‎	Persian: دریاسالار‎‎	Persian: دریابان‎‎	Persian: دریادار‎‎	Persian: دریادار دوم‎‎

Commissioned officer rank insignia of the Iranian Navy
Captain	Commander	Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant	Lieutenant (junior grade)	Ensign	Probationary ensign
Persian: ناخدا یکم‎‎	Persian: ناخدا دوم‎‎	Persian: ناخدا سوم‎‎	Persian: ناوسروان‎‎	Persian: ناوبان یکم‎‎	Persian: ناوبان دوم‎‎	Persian: ناوبان سوم‎‎

Enlisted rank insignia of the Iranian Navy
Master chief petty officer	Senior chief petty officer	Chief petty officer	Petty officer first class	Petty officer second class	Petty officer third class	Seaman	Seaman apprentice	Seaman recruit
Persian: ناواستوار یکم‎‎	Persian: ناواستوار دوم‎‎	Persian: مهناوی یکم‎‎	Persian: مهناوی دوم‎‎	Persian: مهناوی سوم‎‎	Persian: سرناوی‎‎	Persian: ناوی یکم‎‎	Persian: ناوی دوم‎‎	Persian: ناوی‎‎

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commissioned officers and enlisted ranks

Commissioned officer rank insignia of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier general	Second brigadier general	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain	First lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Third lieutenant
Persian: ارتشبد پاسدار‎‎	Persian: سپهبد پاسدار‎‎	Persian: سرلشکر پاسدار‎‎	Persian: سرتیپ پاسدار‎‎	Persian: سرتیپ دوم پاسدار‎‎	Persian: سرهنگ پاسدار‎‎	Persian: سرهنگ دوم پاسدار‎‎	Persian: سرگرد پاسدار‎‎	Persian: سروان پاسدار‎‎	Persian: ستوان یکم پاسدار‎‎	Persian: ستوان دوم پاسدار‎‎	Persian: ستوان سوم پاسدار‎‎

Enlisted rank insignia of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
Command sergeant major	Sergeant major (staff)	Sergeant first class/first sergeant	Staff sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Private first class	Private E-2	Private
Persian: رزم‌دار یکم‎‎	Persian: رزم‌دار دوم‎‎	Persian: رزم‌آور یکم‎‎	Persian: رزم‌آور دوم‎‎	Persian: رزم‌آور سوم‎‎	Persian: رزم‌یار‎‎	Persian: سرباز یکم‎‎	Persian: سرباز دوم‎‎	Persian: سرباز‎‎

Law Enforcement Force of Islamic Republic of Iran commissioned officers and enlisted ranks

Commissioned Officer rank insignia of the Law Enforcement Force of Islamic Republic of Iran (NAJA)
Police general	Police lieutenant general	Police major general	Police brigadier general	Police second brigadier general	Police colonel	Police lieutenant colonel	Police major	Police captain	Police first lieutenant	Police second lieutenant	Police third lieutenant
Persian: ارتشبد‎‎	Persian: سپهبد‎‎	Persian: سرلشکر‎‎	Persian: سرتیپ‎‎	Persian: سرتیپ دوم‎‎	Persian: سرهنگ‎‎	Persian: سرهنگ دوم‎‎	Persian: سرگرد‎‎	Persian: سروان‎‎	Persian: ستوان یکم‎‎	Persian: ستوان دوم‎‎	Persian: ستوان سوم‎‎

Enlisted rank insignia of the Islamic Republic of Iran Police (NAJA)
Command sergeant major	Sergeant major (staff)	Sergeant first class/first sergeant	Staff sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Lance corporal	Senior policeman	Policeman
Persian: استوار یکم‎‎	Persian: استوار دوم‎‎	Persian: گروهبان یکم‎‎	Persian: گروهبان دوم‎‎	Persian: گروهبان سوم‎‎	Persian: سرجوخه‎‎	Persian: سرباز یکم‎‎	Persian: سرباز دوم‎‎	Persian: سرباز‎‎

Description of rank meanings and insignias

The following is a description of Iranian military ranks and their insignias:

Enlisted grade personnel

• Private (E-1)(Sarbāz) (سرباز): It is the lowest military rank. It is represented by a color bordered blank shoulder strip.
• Private (E-2) (Sarbāz dovom) (سرباز دوم): It is the second lowest military rank awarded usually by the end of six months of service after basic training. It is represented by a single chevron.
• Private first class (Sarbāz yekom) (سرباز یکم): It is represented by two chevrons.
• Corporal (Sarjukhe) (سرجوخه) ["Razmyār" (رزم‌یار)]: It is represented by three chevrons.
• Sergeant (Goruhbān) (گروهبان سوم) ["Razmāvar sevom" (رزم‌آور سوم)]: It is represented by a single diamond tipped chevron.
• Staff sergeant (Goruhbān dovom) (گروهبان دوم) ["Razmāvar dovom" (رزم‌آور دوم)]: It is represented by two chevrons diamond tipped at top.
• Sergeant first class (Goruhbān yekom) (گروهبان یکم) ["Razmāvar yekom" (رزم‌آور یکم)]: It is represented by three chevrons diamond tipped at top.
• Sergeant major (Ostovār dovom) (استوار دوم) ["Razmdār dovom" (رزم‌دار دوم)]: It is represented by three chevrons diamond tipped at top with a single curved strip at the bottom.
• Sergeant major first class (Ostovār yekom) (استوار یکم) ["Razmdār yekom" (رزم‌دار یکم)]: It is represented by three chevrons diamond tipped at top with two curved strips at the bottom.

Commissioned grade officers

Company grade officers

• Third lieutenant (Sotvān sevom) (ستوان سوم): It is the most junior officer and the first officer rank. The rank is depicted by one star on the shoulder.
• Second lieutenant (Sotvān dovom) (ستوان دوم): It is the second most junior officer rank and is represented by two stars on the shoulder.
• First lieutenant (Sotvān yekom) (ستوان يكم): It is the third officer rank and is represented by three stars on the shoulder.
• Captain (Sarvān) (سروان): It is the fourth officer rank and the senior of Company Grade officers. The rank is portrayed by four stars on the shoulder.

Field grade officers

• Major (Sargord) (سرگرد): The junior field grade officer rank. The insignia uses by one rounded star or "qobbe" (قبه).
• Lieutenant colonel (Sarhang dovom) (سرهنگ دوم): It is portrayed by two rounded stars or "qobbe" (قبه) on the shoulder board.
• Colonel (Sarhang) (سرهنگ): The senior field grade officer rank. It is portrayed by three rounded stars or "qobbe" (قبه) on the shoulder board.

General officer and flag officer ranks

• Second brigadier general (Sartip dovom) (سرتيپ دوم) or second flotilla admiral (Daryādār dovom) (دریادار دوم) : It is the lowest general rank. This rank was created after the Islamic revolution of Iran as part of a new modified ranking system. It is portrayed by two crossing wheat plants embracing the emblem of Allah.
• Brigadier general (Sartip) (سرتيپ) or flotilla admiral (rear admiral lower half or commodore) (Daryādār) (دریادار): It is portrayed by a star and two crossing wheat plants embracing the emblem of Allah.
• Major general (Sarlashkar) (سرلشكر) or rear admiral upper half (Daryābān) (دریابان): It is portrayed by two stars and two crossing wheat plants embracing the emblem of Allah. Essentially it has been the highest rank in the army after the Islamic Revolution of Iran. Currently, it is the rank of the heads of the Artesh, Sepah, and the head of Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• Lieutenant General (Sepahbod) (سپهبد) or Vice Admiral (Daryāsālār) (دریاسالار): It is portrayed by three stars and two crossing wheat plants embracing the emblem of Allah. This rank was last in use during Iran–Iraq War and has been inactive since the end of the war.
• General (Arteshbod) (ارتشبد) or Admiral (Daryābod) (دریابد): It is portrayed by four stars and two crossing wheat plants embracing the emblem of Allah. It is the highest military rank during peacetime but has not been conferred since the Iranian Revolution.
• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Farmāndehe setāde kolle niroohāye mosallah) (فرمانده ستاد کل نیروهای مسلح): It is the highest military post acting as the Chief of Armed Forces General Staff. The post oversees all Commanding Generals of different branches of Iran's armed forces including army, navy, air force, IRGC and other forces. It is not a military rank by itself but only an appointment, and the holder wears the insignia of the current rank.
• Commander in Chief (Farmāndehe kolle ghovā) (فرمانده كل قوا) or (Bozorgarteshtārān) (بزرگ‌ارتشتاران): It is the highest political command of the armed forces and is not a military rank by itself. This post is reserved for the Supreme Leader of Iran by the Iranian constitution and as such, does not wear any rank insignia at all.

See also

• Comparative military ranks
• Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran
• Military ranks of Soviet Union

References

• ويكي پديا - درجه هاي نظامي ايران
• سايت ميليتاري