You guys obviously know nothing about Iran nor its military ... why the hell do you think that Iranian Special Forces are not comparable with their "western" versions? You won't find much about the Iranian special forces on the net coz everything about them is somehow classified. there are some known divisions and brigades such as the 23rd NOHED division or the 65th NOHED division and there are many divisions and brigades of special operation forces still unknown to the public... Iranian navy had its own division of Special Forces (equivalent to the American SEALS)... Anyway, please don't try any harder to analyze the power or effectiveness of the Iranian Special Forces or Iranian culture coz you know nothing about them. This is a link that you might find interesting: http://www.geocities.com/zarbatteam/

>>You guys obviously know nothing about Iran nor its military ... why the hell do you think that Iranian Special Forces are not comparable with their "western" versions?<< Mainly because Western SOF has great leadership, great technology, great training (most important), great facilities, alot of experience, and many other factors that Iran can't compete against. >>You won't find much about the Iranian special forces on the net coz everything about them is somehow classified.<< Big deal. Being classified doesn't have anything to do with skill. >>there are some known divisions and brigades such as the 23rd NOHED division or the 65th NOHED division and there are many divisions and brigades of special operation forces still unknown to the public... << Brigades and Divisions of SOF? Are we discussing SOF, or some some kind of light infantry. True SOF isn't organized in units that large. >>Iranian navy had its own division of Special Forces (equivalent to the American SEALS)...<< Yes, minus all of the training, leadership, technology, toughness, and money. Seriously, you can't expect them to be as good as Western combat divers...come on. I understand that all Spec Ops units are good, but Middle Eastern SOF really can't compete, bottom line (yes, I will probably get a "All SOF are professional" thrown at me...but I think we all know this). >>Anyway, please don't try any harder to analyze the power or effectiveness of the Iranian Special Forces or Iranian culture coz you know nothing about them.<< The effectiveness of Iranian SOF? Well, considering they are organized in Brigades and Divisons...then they won't be very effective given that US Airpower would knock 'em out in the first couple of hours anyway...given that we go to war (hope not). As far as your culture...you are right. I know nothing about it.

5,500 strong all-volunteer 23rd Special Forces Division If they can actually fudge 5,500 men into a "Division" (IFF the report is correct, many previous replies seem to raise doubts on its authencity)... ... there is no saying why cannot fudge numbers back up to 100,000s, is there? BTW I found the enthusiast-website provided by the (presumably) Iranian poster to be quite funny. Particularly their divisions claim.

gop if you look at the training costs light infantry are relatively easy and cheap to train. it's like sniper training for example. the actual cost per warm body run through a sniper course is actually pretty low compared to many other specialities. small unit tactics and physical conditioning don't really call for much in the way of expensive facilities etc.

Yes, are the guys who wear the big hats in front of Buckingham Palace more "elite" than the "Special" SAS? you never want to underestimate that whole honour of the regiment thing. it's an area that i've always felt the us army for instance pooched badly. there are many british regiments that have histories going back hundreds of years while americans tend to dissolve units when not needed. makes it hard to build up traditions and ceremony which help keep guys sharp. take a look sometime at a trooper from one of the cav regiments vs a trooper from a generic btn. pride is a powerful thing.

>>Brigades and Divisions of SOF? Are we discussing SOF, or some some kind of light infantry. True SOF isn't organized in units that large.<< Bear in mind that calling special operations units a "division" or "brigade" is purely a matter of nomenclature. One could just as easily refer to NAVSPECWAR as the "1st Navy Special Operations Division" (except "division" in the navy isn't used that way) and reclassify all the SFG(A)'s as "special forces brigades" without it making a bit of difference. We just don't call them that for one reason(s) or another, even when commanding such a unit is considered the equivalent of holding a brigade or divisional command (or their naval equivalents), etc. That said, as stated previously, the Iranian special operations community does not play in the same league as their US, UK, Australian, French, etc. counterparts.