Iran's Ground Forces Arsenal: The Weapons Behind One of the Middle East's Most Armed Armies

Why Iran's Land Forces Weapons Matter Right Now

The ongoing conflict involving Iran — marked by the 2025 Twelve-Day War and the broader escalation that reignited in early 2026 — has brought renewed global attention to the Islamic Republic's military capabilities. While much of the discussion centers on missiles, drones, and nuclear ambitions, the conventional small arms of Iran's ground forces tell an equally important story: one of Cold War–era workhorses, domestic industrial ambition, and a determined push for self-sufficiency in the face of decades of international arms embargoes. This article focuses specifically on what Iran's soldiers carry — from the standard infantryman's battle rifle to the specialized weapons of its elite special operations units.

The G3: Iran's Backbone Battle Rifle for Five Decades

For more than 50 years, the Heckler & Koch G3 served as Iran's standard military issue rifle — one of the longest continuous service runs of any single weapon system in a modern army. Originally adopted during the era of the Shah when Iran had close ties to West Germany, the G3 is chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO and is known for its roller-delayed blowback operating system, exceptional reliability in harsh environments, and hard-hitting full-power cartridge.

Heckler & Koch G3A3 and G3A4 battle rifles — the backbone of Iran's infantry for over five decades

The Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle (top: G3A4, bottom: G3A3 sectioned for training) — Iran's primary service rifle for over 50 years. Image: Quickload (Edmond HUET), CC BY-SA 3.0.

Iran not only fielded the G3 but also established domestic production capability, manufacturing the rifle under license. Iran's domestically-produced G3 variants continued to flow into service long after ties with West Germany were severed following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The rifle's longevity in Iranian service reflects both the durability of the design and the constraints imposed by international sanctions that limited Iran's access to foreign arms. However, by the 2020s, after 53 years of continuous service, the G3's days as the standard issue weapon were finally numbered.

The Transition: MASAF-2 Replaces the G3

Iran's Defense Industries Organization (DIO) announced a major rearmament program centered on the MASAF-2 assault rifle. Introduced in 2021 and entering mass production for troop distribution in 2024–2025, the MASAF-2 is chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO — retaining the same cartridge as the G3 — but takes a dramatically different design approach. Structurally resembling the HK416 in its use of a short-stroke gas piston system, the MASAF-2 is built extensively from aluminum and polymer, bringing its weight down to approximately 3.99 kg. It features a dual-mode fire selector for semi-automatic and full-automatic fire, and accepts a 450mm barrel. The shift to a more modern gas-piston platform reflects Iran's desire to modernize its infantry capability while maintaining ammunition commonality during the long transition period.

The KH-2002 Khaybar: Iran's Bullpup Experiment

Before the MASAF-2 emerged as the G3's successor, Iran made an earlier and ambitious attempt to field a modern assault rifle. The KH-2002 Khaybar, unveiled in 2004, was a bullpup 5.56×45mm assault rifle developed by the DIO as a direct replacement for aging G3 stocks. The Khaybar was built around an Iranian copy of the Chinese CQ rifle (itself a copy of the M16), converted to a bullpup configuration and using M16-compatible magazines.

Iranian Brigadier General Nur-Ali Shushtari holding the KH-2002 Khaybar bullpup assault rifle

Brigadier General Nur-Ali Shushtari with the KH-2002 Khaybar bullpup assault rifle in Iranian desert camouflage. Image: Fars Media Corporation, CC BY 4.0.

The Khaybar offered a muzzle velocity of approximately 900 m/s, a rate of fire of 800–850 rounds per minute, and an effective range of 450 meters — competitive specifications for its class. It appeared in three variants, including an improved 2009 model called the "Sama." Despite the technical ambition, the KH-2002 program was discontinued in 2012 after Iran was unable to secure sufficient domestic or export orders to justify continued production. The rifle nevertheless represents an important chapter in Iran's efforts to break away from Cold War–era platforms.

Secondary Arms: Iran's Military Sidearms

Iran's standard military sidearm is the PC-9 "Zoaf" — a domestically produced copy of the Swiss SIG Sauer P226. Adopted in 1995 and chambered in 9mm Parabellum (Iran's primary locally-produced pistol cartridge), the Zoaf provides officers and vehicle crews with a compact, reliable self-defense weapon. Its design closely mirrors the P226's double-action/single-action mechanism and 15-round magazine capacity. Older sidearms that predate the Revolution — including US-supplied Colt M1911A1 pistols and Smith & Wesson revolvers — remain in limited circulation within reserve and paramilitary units such as the Basij. Iran has also produced licensed copies of the Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun, providing compact firepower to vehicle crews, military police, and security personnel.

Iran's Elite Special Forces: The IRGC Saberin Units

Iran's most capable conventional ground fighters belong to the Saberin Takavar Brigade, the special operations force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). With approximately 6,000 handpicked volunteers drawn from the best performers across all IRGC branches, the Saberin are trained in hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, heliborne assault, special reconnaissance, and direct action raids. Their weapons selection reflects their more demanding operational requirements.

Iranian-made assault and battle rifles on display at a Defense Industries Organization exhibition

A selection of Iranian-made assault and battle rifles on display at a DIO exhibition, including G3 and KH-2002 variants. Image: Hossein Fatemi / Fars News Agency, CC BY 4.0.

According to open-source reporting, Saberin units operate the M16 platform — known internally as the "Zulfiqar" — acquired through pre-revolution stockpiles and regional procurement. Russia has also supplied Iran with AK-103 rifles (7.62×39mm) reportedly directed toward special operations use. For close-quarters battle, the Iranian-licensed MP5 variants and HK53 compact rifles remain in the Saberin inventory. The unit is also noted for its emphasis on sniper training, with operators using SVD Dragunov-pattern rifles, including Iran's domestic Nakhjir 3 variant, for precision fire missions. The Saberin's diversified arsenal reflects a practical approach to special operations: drawing from whatever is most capable for the mission, domestic or otherwise.

Why This Matters: Iran in Active Conflict

Understanding Iran's small arms inventory is no longer purely an academic exercise. The Twelve-Day War of June 2025 — in which Israel struck Iranian nuclear and military sites and Iran responded with over 550 ballistic missiles and more than 1,000 suicide drones — demonstrated that Iranian ground forces exist within a broader combined-arms doctrine. The escalation that resumed in early 2026 further underscored how Iranian land forces remain a critical factor in regional stability calculations. Iran's IRGC ground forces, including Saberin units, have been deployed in support of operations across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen — making their equipment relevant not just to Iran itself, but to every theater where Iranian-affiliated fighters operate.

A Military Shaped by Sanctions and Self-Reliance

Iran's land forces present a picture of a military that has turned embargo into innovation. Denied access to foreign suppliers for nearly five decades, Iran built an indigenous arms industry capable of reverse-engineering, domestically producing, and in some cases genuinely improving upon the weapons it once had to import. The G3 ran for over half a century in Iranian hands. The KH-2002 was a genuine design attempt, not just a copy. The MASAF-2 signals continued ambition. And the Saberin's mixed arsenal shows a willingness to use whatever works. For firearms enthusiasts and analysts alike, Iran's ground forces represent one of the most self-sufficient — and now actively relevant — small arms ecosystems on the planet.