•Donald Trump considers deploying over 17,000 ground troops to Iran, a move seen as risky despite a month of airstrikes.
•Iran's military is large, resilient, and highly networked, comprising conventional forces, elite Revolutionary Guards, and paramilitary militias.
•With over 600,000 active-duty personnel, Iran's forces include 350,000 regular army troops and 190,000 IRGC forces.
•Iran possesses the region's largest and most diverse missile arsenal, with thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles hidden in hardened sites.
•US officials aim to degrade Iran's capabilities through precision strikes and secure strategic routes, avoiding a full-scale ground invasion due to high risks.