The Islamic Republic of Iran Army[1] (틀:Lang-fa), acronymed AJA (틀:Lang-fa), simply known as the Iranian Army or Artesh (틀:Lang-fa), is the "conventional military of Iran"[2] and part of Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The army is tasked to protect the territorial integrity of the Iranian state from external and internal threats and to project power.[2] Artesh has its own Joint Staff[3] which coordinates its four separate service branches: Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy and the newly established Air Defense Force.[2]