The Imperial Iranian Army formed the main body of the Iranian armed forces during the Pahlavi era. The main task of the army was to maintain the territorial integrity and defend the country against foreign military invasion. The Imperial Army was founded by Reza Shah because Iran was deprived of the blessing of a unified, trained, and centralized army during the Qajar era. Following the declaration of the army’s neutrality on 12 Bahman 1357, 26 days after the Shah left Iran, the 1357 Revolution finally took place and the Pahlavi dynasty was deposed. After the revolution, many high-ranking officers and personnel of the Imperial Army were executed.
The modernization and strengthening of the army accelerated during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah. By direct order of the Shah, the Imperial Air Force was equipped with the purchase of F-14 fighter jets and other modern American fighter aircraft, which greatly assisted Iran in the Iran-Iraq War. The Army Navy also acquired the power to take control of the Persian Gulf alone by purchasing warships. By 1979, the Imperial Army was considered the fifth most powerful military force in the world, it had the largest air force in West Asia and the largest navy in the Persian Gulf.