Iran is much bigger than Israel geographically and has a population of nearly 90 million, almost 10 times as big as Israel’s – but this does not translate into greater military power.
Iran has invested heavily in missiles and drones. It has a vast arsenal of its own, and has also been supplying significant amounts to its proxies – the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
It has significantly upgraded its air defence systems and fighter jets. Russia is believed to be co-operating with Iran to improve those in return for the military support Tehran has given Moscow in its war on Ukraine. It has provided Iran with Su-35 fighter planes and the advanced S-300 air defence missile system.
Israel though has one of the most advanced air forces in the world. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) military balance report, Israel has at least 14 squadrons of jets – including F-15s, F-16s and the latest F-35 stealth jet.
Israel also has experience of conducting strikes deep inside hostile territory. The shortest distance between Iran and Israel is about 1,000km (620 miles). Tel Aviv to Tehran is about 1,600km – further than the operational capability of any of Israel’s fleet without refuelling.
Israel is assumed to have nuclear weapons but maintains an official policy of ambiguity. Iran does not have nuclear weapons though Western states suspect it of secretly aiming to develop them. Iran emphatically denies it is trying or even wants to obtain nuclear weapons.
Like Israel, Iran has a civilian nuclear programme, though it has been under suspicion for decades of covertly running a parallel programme to manufacture material – enriched uranium – for nuclear bombs, and the missiles to deliver them.
In May, the head of the global nuclear watchdog said Iran was “weeks rather than months” away from having enough material for a nuclear bomb. However, this does not mean Iran is weeks away from a bomb. It would still require a final step of enriching that material to military grade, and having warheads, which it is not believed to possess.
Israel is not a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), though Iran is. The NPT aims to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and requires members to open their nuclear facilities to inspection to verify they are being used for purely peaceful purposes.
A 2015 UN-backed deal with Iran under which it agreed to measures limiting its nuclear activities in return for a lifting of economic sanctions largely collapsed after then-President Trump pulled the US out in 2018. Iran has stepped up its nuclear programme since then.