By Pishtaz | 2026-03-22

The Islamic Republic's regular army, known as the Artesh, is increasingly described by informed observers as a force under severe strain and institutional neglect.

Reports suggest systemic challenges, compounded by internal rivalries, have weakened the Artesh during a period requiring sustained operational readiness.

Among the most pressing concerns are supply shortages disproportionately affecting Artesh units, limiting their ability to operate effectively in demanding conditions.

While exact figures remain difficult to verify independently, multiple accounts point to severe rationing of ammunition and essential battlefield resources.

Claims that units receive minimal ammunition, sometimes insufficient even for basic defensive operations, highlight a broader and persistent pattern of neglect.

Access to food and clean drinking water has also been inconsistent in certain deployments, further undermining morale and overall combat effectiveness.

Medical neglect and unequal access

Medical care represents another critical fault line, with reports indicating delays or denial of treatment for wounded Artesh personnel in key facilities.

Sources allege that facilities under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) prioritize their own personnel, leaving Artesh soldiers with limited or delayed access to care.

The IRGC has reportedly justified these limitations by citing shortages of ambulances and blood supplies during periods of heightened operational demand.

Critics argue these explanations obscure a deeper pattern of prioritization, where IRGC resources are preserved while regular army needs remain unmet.

Claims of selective medical access suggest that institutional divides, rather than purely logistical constraints, are shaping outcomes for wounded personnel.

Rising tensions and strategic consequences

Tensions between the Artesh and the IRGC reflect longstanding structural imbalances in funding, authority and political influence within the Islamic Republic regime's military establishment.

The IRGC's close ties to the leadership and expansive regional role have consistently overshadowed Artesh's more conventional defense responsibilities.

This imbalance appears to be contributing to declining morale and, according to some accounts, an increase in desertions within the regular army.

Although comprehensive data remains limited, economic hardship and institutional inequality provide a plausible context for growing dissatisfaction among personnel.

A weakened Artesh, lacking sufficient supplies and support, risks becoming ineffective as a conventional fighting force in both defensive and strategic roles.

This dynamic reinforces reliance on the IRGC and its regional proxy networks, shaping the regime's broader military and foreign policy posture.

Some analysts argue that reducing dependence on these networks could encourage a more predictable foreign policy focused on national sovereignty.

Ultimately, ongoing shortages, medical disparities and institutional divisions point to a military system under mounting and potentially destabilizing strain.