This is a list of wars involving the Islamic Republic of Iran, excluding its predecessor states. It is an unfinished historical conspectus.
Major conflicts Conflict Iran (and allies) Opponents ResultsNotesIranian Revolution(1978–1979) Part of the Constitutionalization attempts in Iran and the Cold WarRevolutionaries' victoryRevolutionaries' victory Overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the monarchy End of Pahlavi Iran Establishment of an Interim Government Constitution of the Islamic Republic replaced Persian Constitution of 1906 with referendum Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the Supreme Leader Iran hostage crisis Arab League–Iran relations deteriorates. Beginning of the Iran–Iraq War in 1980 Hijab for all women by law 1979 oil crisis Massive exile that characterizes a large portion of today's Iranian diaspora Islamic revival worldwide International sanctions against Iran Anti-Americanist regime change, prompting many anti-American riots throughout the Muslim world Iran designated state sponsor of terrorism 1979 U.S. embassy burning in Islamabad Nojeh coup plot Start of the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict The Islamic Republic of Iran cuts all ties with Israel, which would later evolve into the Iran–Israel proxy conflictAftermath of the Iranian Revolution(1979–1983) Haft-e Tir bombing 1981 Iranian Prime Minister's office bombing Part of Terrorism in Iran and the Cold WarPolitical: Islamic Republican Party Combatant Clergy Association Islamic Coalition Society
Armed groups: Armed Forces Artesh (Army) IRGC
Others: Revolutionary Committees Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's LinePolitical: Freedom Movement National Front JAMA Movement of Militant Muslims Nation Party Muslim People's Republic Party National Democratic Front National Resistance Movement of Iran Pan-Iranist Party Azadegan
Armed groups: MEK Tudeh Party Peykar Furqan NEQAB Union of Iranian Communists Union of Communist Militants Workers' Way Fedaian (majority) Fedaian (minority) Fedai Guerrillas Laborers' Party Turkmen People's Cultural and Political Society
Separatists: KDPI Komala DRFLA
Islamic Republican Party victoryIslamic Republican Party victory Ruhollah Khomeini consolidates power Referendum and establishment of Islamic Republic of Iran Iran hostage crisis and resignation of the Provisional Revolutionary Government Rebellions in Kordestan, Khuzestan, Khorasan and Baluchistan suppressed NEQAB coup d'état failed Impeachment and exile of Abolhassan Banisadr Crackdown on opposition and political opposition parties banned Implementation of the "Iranian Cultural Revolution" Hijab for all women by law Iran–Iraq War commences (and continues until 1988) Armed opposition largely marginalized; low-level insurgency continues1979 Iranian ethnic unrest Part of the Consolidation of the Iranian Revolution, Azerbaijani separatism and Kurdish separatism in Iran Interim Government
Islamic Republic of IranAzerbaijani rebelsKurdish rebelsAhwazi rebelsTurkmen rebelsQashqai rebelsSupported by: IraqVictorySuppression of all revolts1979 Turkmen rebellion in Iran (1979) Part of the Consolidation of the Iranian RevolutionIranian Turkmen rebelsVictoryUprising crushed.1979 Kurdish rebellion in Iran (1979–1996) Part of the Consolidation of the Iranian Revolution, Iran–Iraq War, and Kurdish separatism in Iran Interim Government
Islamic Republic of Iran(1980−83)KDP-I Komala IPFG OIPFG (Minority)Sipay Rizgari
Supported by: IraqVictory Iranian forces mostly diverted to the Iran–Iraq War front since late 1980 Pockets of KDPI resistance remained until 19961979 Khuzestan insurgency (1979) Part of the Consolidation of the Iranian Revolution and Arab separatism in Khuzestan Interim Government Islamic Republic of Iran (From 6 November) DRFLA
Supported by:
IraqVictoryIranian victory Uprising quelled DRFLA siege of Iranian embassy in 1980Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988) Part of the Cold War, the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution, the Iraqi–Kurdish conflict, the Assadist–Saddamist conflict and the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict KDP PUK ISCI Islamic Dawa Party
Shia volunteers from:
Abuzar Brigade Iraq Badr Organization
Tehreek-e-Jafaria (Pakistan) Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan
DRFLA MEK NCRI PDKISalvation Force
Arab volunteers from:
Dictionary of modern Arab history, Kegan Paul International 1998. p. 196. Berridge, W.J. "Civil Uprisings in Modern Sudan: The 'Khartoum Springs' of 1964 and 1985", p. 136. Bloomsbury Academic, 2015 InconclusiveStatus quo ante bellumLebanese Civil War (1975–1990)
Part of Iran–Israel proxy conflict and Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy war, Arab–Israeli conflict, Arab Cold War and Cold War. (1982–1990) (from 1980, mainly IRGC and Army paramilitary units) Army of Free Lebanon (until 1977) SLA (from 1976) (from 1978) Tigers Militia (until 1980) Lebanese National Movement (1975–1982)
PLO (1975–1983)
ASALA Islamic Unification Movement (from 1982) Lebanese Armed Forces UNIFIL (from 1978)
Multinational Force in Lebanon (1982–1984)
Syria (1976, 1983–1991) Amal Movement
PNSF Marada Brigades (left LF in 1978; aligned with Syria) Arab Deterrent Force (1976–1982)Mays, Terry M. Historical Dictionary of Multinational Peacekeeping. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 1996, pp. 9–10 CompromiseTaif Agreement Christian-to-Muslim representation in Parliament of Lebanon adjusted from ratio of 55:45 to 50:50. Political powers of Muslim-reserved position of Prime Minister strengthened over Christian-reserved position of President. Disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias, excluding Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Continued hostilities between Lebanon and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and PLO expulsion to Tunis, Tunisia in 1982.
Expulsion of Palestinian militias from Lebanon after the Battle of Sidon in 1991
Collapse of the Israel-backed State of Free Lebanon in 1984 and of Israel's South Lebanon security belt administration in 2000.
Continued fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in the Shebaa Farms conflict, eventually leading to the 2006 Lebanon War.
Dominance of Hezbollah armed strength across Lebanon since 1990
Syria occupies northern/eastern Lebanon until 30 April 2005.
Israel occupies southern Lebanon until 25 May 2000.1982 Lebanon War(1982) Part of the Lebanese Civil WarSupported by: InconclusivePLO withdrawal from Lebanon End of the Palestinian insurgency in South Lebanon Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon Beginning of the Southern Lebanon conflict1982 Amol uprising(1982) Part of the Consolidation of the Iranian RevolutionUnion of Iranian CommunistsVictoryUIC leadership is dismantled.KDPI–Komala conflict(1984−1991)KDP-I KomalaVictoryBoth armed forces debilitate and Iran maintain control of Iranian Kurdistan.KDPI insurgency (1989–1996)KDP-IVictoryKDPI announces unilateral cease-fire in 1996.Afghan Civil War (1996–2001) 1998 killing of Iranian diplomats in Afghanistan Eastern Iran clashes Part of the Afghan conflict, and Iran-Taliban conflict and Iran-Al Qaeda conflict (Northern Alliance)
Supported by: (Taliban)
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan Supported by:Stalemate Development of the Six plus Two Group on Afghanistan. United States invasion of AfghanistanArab civil unrest and insurgency on Khuzestan (1999−2020) Part of Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict ASMLA NLMA Ansar Al-Furqan Supported by: (until 2003) VictoryRevolts suppressedWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021) (until 2002) United States invasion of Afghanistan 2001 uprising in Herat Part of the war on terror, Iran-Al Qaeda conflict and Iran-Taliban conflict Northern Alliance
(until 2002) Al-Qaeda Foreign fightersVictory Fall of the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Iran quits the coalition and forms the Axis of Resistance after the Axis of evil speech, ending its collaboration with the US coalition.Third Pakistani-Balochistan Conflict(2004–present) 2010 attack on Pakistan ambassador to Iran Baloch separatist factions
BLA Majeed Brigade Fateh Squad BLF Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar LeB (inactive) BLUF (2009–2010) BSO (Azad) (inactive) BNA (2022–2023) BRA (2006–2022) UBA (2013–2022) Other Baloch Separatist groups
Sectarian factions
Ansar Al-Furqan (since 2013) Jaysh al-Adl (since 2012) Harakat Ansar (2012–13) Hizbul-Furqan (2012–13) Jundallah (2003–12) Islamic State (since 2014) IS-KP (since 2015) IS-PP (since 2019) Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (since 2007) Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (1996–2024) Sipah-e-Sahaba (1985–2018)OngoingDesk, Quetta Voice Web (20 December 2023). "BNA Commander Sarfaraz Bangulzai Along With 72 Militants Surrender". Quetta Voice Breaking News, English News, Technology, Health. Retrieved 20 December 2023. Extension of the conflict into Iran Operation Azm-e-Istehkam continuous in PakistanSistan and Baluchestan insurgency(2004–present) 2024 Iranian missile strikes in Pakistan Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar Iranian Armed Forces Artesh (since 1979)
Navy Special forces: NOHED Brigade 3rd Marine Brigade IRGC (since 1980) Ground Forces Aerospace Force Navy Basij Special forces: Saberin Takavar Brigade 110th Salman Farsi Special Operations Brigade Sepah Navy Special Force Iranian police Border Guard (since 2000) Ministry of Intelligence Imperial Iranian Army (until 1979) Current: Jaish ul-Adl (2013–present) Ansar Al-Furqan (2013–present) BLAThe rebellion started already in 1962, but Iran did not intervene before 1973. BLF
Former: Jundallah (2004–2011) Harakat Ansar (2012–2013)OngoingOngoing insurgencyIran–PJAK Conflict(2004–present) 7 Part of Kurdish separatism in Iran PJAKOngoingPJAK withdraws from Iranian territory2006 Lebanon War (2006) Part of the Israeli–Lebanese conflict, the Iran–Israel proxy conflict and the war on terror Amal Movement
Lebanese Communist Party
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command
Syrian Social Nationalist Party in Lebanon
Supported by:
Ba'athist Syria InconclusiveIsrael occupies Ghajar until presentAfghanistan–Iran border skirmishes (2007–2023) 2009 Afghanistan–Iran clash 2021 Afghanistan–Iran clashes 2023 Afghanistan–Iran clash part of Afghan conflict and Iran-Taliban conflict Islamic Republic of AfghanistanStalemateStatus quo ante bellumWar on ISIS (2013–ongoing) Iran-Islamic State conflict
Free Syrian Army Rojava United States
Islamic State Sinai Province Lebanon Province Yemen Province Khorasan Province Pakistan Province Caucasus Province
al-Nusra Front
KhorasanVictorySuccessful repression against ISIS guerrilla warfare. Russia–Syria–Iran–Iraq coalition is formed.Syrian Civil War(2011–2024) Iranian intervention in Syria Hezbollah involvement in the Syrian civil war Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents during the Syrian civil war Syrian civil war spillover in Lebanon Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war part of Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict, Iran–Israel proxy conflict, Hezbollah–Israel conflict, Iran-Al Qaeda conflict and War against the Islamic State (since 2013) Ba'athist Syria (2017–19) Free Syrian Army Supported By:
Islamic Front
Supported By:
Ahrar al-Sham Tahrir al-Sham al-Nusra Front Al-Qaeda Supported By:
CJTF–OIR Defeat Islamic State in Syria defeated near the end of 2017. Assad regime falls and Iranian forces withdraw after 2024 Syrian opposition offensives, starting Assadist loyalist revolts. The Syrian Salvation Government and the Syrian Interim Government develops the Syrian caretaker government. Beginning of resistance by SSNP and allies against Israel after the occupation of Quneitra Governorate.War in Iraq(2013–2017) Iranian intervention in Iraq (2014–present) part of War against the Islamic State and Iran-Islamic State conflict PeshmergaAsa'ib Ahl al-HaqBadr Organization Kata'ib Hezbollah Kata'ib al-Imam Ali