Who is more powerful, Iran or Israel?

Iran and Israel both have formidable military might, and it is unclear what would happen if the two countries entered into a prolonged conflict. The 12-Day War in June 2025 was the first significant test between the two militaries and it demonstrated Israel’s ability to overwhelm Iran’s air defenses and sabotage its military assets with apparent ease. Israel’s alliance with the United States also came into play in swiftly achieving its objectives in the brief confrontation. Meanwhile, Israel’s Arrow, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome air defense systems, along with assistance by the United States and other allies, have managed to intercept most incoming missiles from Iran in the few confrontations that have taken place since 2024. But it remains unclear how Iran would fare in a prolonged conflict. Iran has a general advantage in size—with a land mass nearly 74 times that of Israel proper—and in numbers—with some 600,000 active personnel (and 350,000 reservists) compared to Israel’s 170,000 (and 450,000 reservists). Moreover, Israel’s manpower may be affected by some level of war weariness after years of conflict in the Gaza Strip. Iran also has a greater amount of tanks, artillery, and naval force, and has cultivated an expansive network of allied militant groups and state-controlled armed forces (known as the Axis of Resistance) that are bolstered by its clandestine Quds Force. While Israel has an advantage in technology and air force, as well as one of the world’s most effective intelligence services, Iran’s relative size and regional reach could help it withstand a longer war.