Iran's Khamenei Claims Military Undefeated Amidst U.S. Army Recognition Guide

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei stated on October 8 that U.S. and Israeli strikes had not undermined Iran's domestic security forces, praising police personnel for resisting attacks. Khamenei's remarks coincided with the U.S. Army's release of a new battlefield identification guide aimed at helping American troops recognize members of Iran's conventional military, known as the Artesh. The ground forces of the Artesh were estimated in June by the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security at 350,000 personnel.

"The criminal US-Zionist enemy's desperate efforts and malicious attacks on the pillars of social order and security... have not caused the courageous personnel of the Police Force to waver even a fraction in their mission," Khamenei wrote in a statement on X. He specifically praised Iran's Law Enforcement Command, known as FARAJA, accusing the United States and Israel of targeting the institution responsible for maintaining domestic order. "The focus and persistence of the criminal US-Zionist enemy in striking at the Police Force at its various levels... has only served to underscore the paramount importance of this institution more than ever," he added.

Iran's security apparatus is composed of three main branches: the Artesh, primarily responsible for territorial defense; the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), tasked with protecting the Islamic Republic and projecting military power; and FARAJA, responsible for domestic law enforcement and internal security. FARAJA, commanded by Brig. Gen. Ahmadreza Radan, is responsible for public order, enforcing laws, and responding to civil unrest. According to Iran Human Rights Monitor, the force has become a significant internal security institution involved in suppressing anti-government demonstrations, monitoring political activity, and enforcing ideological restrictions.

Radan himself has faced U.S. sanctions for his role in human rights abuses. The Treasury Department designated him in September 2010, citing his responsibility for beatings, killings, and arbitrary arrests of protesters following Iran's disputed 2009 presidential election. Khamenei also called for strengthening FARAJA through increased personnel, equipment, and technology, including the use of artificial intelligence for data analysis.

These statements follow the U.S. Army's Training and Transformation Command publication of a "Know the Threat" recognition guide on September 24. The guide illustrates an Iranian special forces soldier and identifies potential weapons American troops might encounter, such as AKM rifles, Iranian-made Masaf-2 rifles, G3 rifles, MG3 machine guns, and RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

The Artesh, distinct from the IRGC and its Basij militia, operates across four branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, and Air Defense Force. A June assessment by the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security estimated the Artesh's Ground Forces at approximately 350,000 personnel, including 220,000 conscripts. The report indicated that the Artesh's air, naval, and air defense components suffered significant damage during the initial phase of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign, while its ground forces remained structurally intact due to the absence of a ground invasion.

President Donald Trump stated on October 8 that the U.S. would not resume military strikes against Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, citing "productive discussions" between the two nations. Trump had previously claimed that Iran's military capabilities had been significantly degraded by U.S. strikes, asserting that the country possessed fewer drones and missiles and that its navy and air force had been destroyed.