| Conflict |
Iran (and allies) |
Opponents |
Results |
Notes |
| Palestinian insurgency in South Lebanon
(1968–1982)
|
Palestine Liberation Organization
Syria
Lebanese National Movement
Lebanese National Resistance Front
Supported by:
|
Israel
South Lebanon Army
Lebanese Forces
|
Defeat |
|
| Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict
(11 February 1979–present)
|
|
|
Ongoing |
Ongoing
|
| Assadist–Saddamist conflict
(22 July 1979–2024)
|
Assadists
|
Saddamists
|
Inconclusive |
Inconclusive
|
Qatif conflict (1979–2023)
|
Iran-backed Shia militants (1980s–1990s)[275]
Saudi Shia civilians |
Saudi Arabian Government
|
Stalemate |
Conflict ended[277] |
| Soviet–Afghan War
(1979–1989)
|
Afghan Mujahideen
Sunni Mujahideen
Supported by:
Pakistan
Shia Mujahideen and Hazaras
Supported by:
Iran[278][279][280]
Maoist Mujahideen
Supported by:
People's Republic of China |
Soviet Union
 Afghanistan Al Zulfiqar |
Victory |
|
| Sectarian violence in Pakistan
(1947−Present)
|
Shia Groups:
Supported by:
Iran (since 1979)[287]
|
|
Ongoing |
|
| Iranian Embassy siege
(1980) |
Iran
United Kingdom
|
Democratic Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of Arabistan (DRFLA) |
Victory |
Embassy recaptured after six-day siege |
| Tanker War (1981−1988)
|
Iran
Supported by:
Pakistan[306][307] |
Iraq
Supported by:
United States
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait |
Inconclusive |
UNSCR 598 |
| Multinational Force in Lebanon
(1982–1984)
|
Islamic Jihad Organization
Iran
Ba'athist Syria
Progressive Socialist Party
Amal Movement
|
United States
France
Italy
United Kingdom
|
Stalemate |
Syrian Allied victory[308]
|
| Second Sudanese Civil War
(1983–2005)
|
Sudan
SSDF
SPLA dissidents
Nuer White Army
Ugandan insurgents:
Zaire (1994–1997)
al-Qaeda (1991–1996)[irrelevant citation]
Iraq[o]
China[p]
Combat aid:
Libya (1986–1991)[321]
DR Congo (1998–2003)
Non-combat aid:
Iran[323]
Belarus (from 1996)[324][325]
|
SPLA
SSLM
NDA
Sudanese Alliance Forces
Anyanya II
Eastern Coalition
Derg (until 1987)
PDR Ethiopia (1987–1991)
FDR Ethiopia (1995–1998)
Eritrea (1996–1998, 2002–2005)
Uganda (from 1993)[331]
Non-combat aid:
Libya (1983–1985)[332][333]
Israel
Cuba (until 1991)[335]
|
Stalemate |
Comprehensive Peace Agreement |
| 1983–1986 Kurdish rebellions in Iraq
|
KDP
Supported by:
Iran
PUK
Kurdish mujahideen |
Iraq |
Stalemate |
- Long term Kurdish tactical failure
|
| Iran–Israel proxy conflicts (1985[336]−present)
|
Iran
|
Israel
|
Ongoing |
Ongoing
|
| War of Brothers
(1988–1990)
|
Hezbollah
Supported by:
Iran
|
Amal Movement
Supported by:
Syria
|
Inconclussive |
Reconciliation between the two parties. |
| Afghan Civil War (1989–1992)
|
Foreign Fighters:
Various factions also fought among each other
Pakistan Saudi Arabia Turkey United States United Kingdom China Germany Iran |
Government of Afghanistan
Supported by: India |
Victory |
|
| 1991 Iraqi uprisings
|
Shia and leftist elements of opposition:
Kurdish rebels:
Peshmerga:
Diplomatic support:
United States[364]
Military support:
Iran[365] |
Ba'athist Iraq
Support:
 MEK |
Iraqi government military victory |
|
| Bosnian War
(1992–1995)
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Military Support:
Iran (alleged)
Herzeg-Bosnia
Croatia
|
Republika Srpska
Serbian Krajina
SFR Yugoslavia (until 1992)
Western Bosnia
|
Stalemate |
Breakup of Yugoslavia
|
| Algerian Civil War
(1992–2002)
|
Islamic Salvation Front loyalists
Morocco [369][370][371]
Libya (until 1995)[369]
Saudi Arabia (pre-war)[372]
Saudi private donors[372]
Armed Islamic Group (from 1993)
Minor involvement:
Sudan (alleged)[373][374][375]
Iran (alleged)[372][373][374][375]
Egyptian Islamic Jihad (until 1995)[376]
Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (from 1998)
Minor involvement:
Al-Qaeda[373]
|
Government of Algeria
Minor involvement:
Egypt[377][369]
Tunisia[377][369]
France[369][372]
European Union[372]
South Africa[378]
|
Defeat |
Algerian Government victory over the islamists. |
| Afghan Civil War (1992–1996)
|
Hezb-i Wahdat (Dec. 1992–1995)
Supported by:
Iran (Dec. 1992–1995)[379]
Junbish-i Milli (Jan.–Aug. 1994)
Supported by:
Uzbekistan (Jan.–Aug. 1994)
Islamic State of Afghanistan INRMA
ANFL (Jeebh-e Nejat-e Melli)
Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin (from late 1994)
Supported by:
Saudi Arabia
Uzbekistan (until Jan. 1994; from Aug. 1994)
Iran (until Dec. 1992: from 1995)[379]
|
Afghan Army and Airforce Remnants (allegedly, until October 1992)
Regional Kandahar Militia Leaders
Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin (until late 1994)[380]
Supported by:
Pakistan (until late 1994)
Taliban (from late 1994)
Al-Qaeda (from early 1996)
Supported by:
Pakistan (from late 1994)
|
Stalemate |
Inconclussive
|
| Tajikistani Civil War
(1992–1997)
|
|
|
Defeat |
Armistice |
| Iraqi Kurdish Civil War
(1994–1997)
|
PUK
PKK[389]
SCIRI
KCP
Iraqi National Congress
Supported by:
Iran (from 1995)
Syria
United States (1996)
|
KDP
PDKI
Supported by:
Iraq (from 1995)
Turkey (from 1997)
Iran (before 1995)
|
Stalemate |
Washington Agreement
|
| Iran-Hezbollah terrorist attacks in Argentina
(1992–1994)
|
Iran Hezbollah
|
Argentina
Supported by:
Israel |
Victory |
Iranian attacks were succesfull. |
| 1999 Shia uprising in Iraq
|
Rebels:
Supported by:
|
Government of Iraq |
Defeat |
Saddamist victory. |
| Iraqi Kurdistan conflict (2001–2003)
|
Supported by:
Iran (alleged by PUK)[395]
KDP (alleged by PUK)[395]
|
|
Defeat |
Kurdistan Region–United States victory |
War in Darfur (2003–2020)
|
Sudan
Chadian rebel groups
Anti-Gaddafi forces (2011)[397]
Supported by:
Libya (2011–2020)[398]
China[399]
Iran (until 2016)[400]
Russia[401]
Belarus[402]
Syria (2000s, alleged)[403]
|
SRF[q]
(2006–2020)
JEM (2003–2020)
SLA (some factions) (2003–2020)
LJM (2010–11)[r]
SLA (some factions)
SARC (2014–2020)
SLFA (2017–2020)[405]
SLA-Unity
- SLMJ
JEM (Jali)
Supported by:
South Sudan[406]
Chad (2005–2010)[407]
Eritrea (until 2008)[408]
Libya (until 2011)[409]
Uganda (until 2015)[410]
 UNAMID (2007–2020) |
Stalemate |
|
| Iraqi insurgency
(2003-2011)
|
United States
United Kingdom
New Iraqi government
Sons of Iraq Badr Organization
Supported by:
Iran[411][412]
NATO
Israel[413][414]
United Nations
|
Sunni insurgents
Shia insurgents
Supported by:
|
Inconclusive |
Inconclusive
|
| Houthi insurgency
(2004–2014)
|
Houthi Movement
Yemen (pro-Saleh forces)
Alleged support by:
Iran[422][423]
North Korea[424][425][426]
Libya (until 2011)[427] |
Yemen
Saudi Arabia
Supported by:
Jordan[429]
Morocco[430]
al-Qaeda
|
Houthi victory |
Houthi victory
|
| 2004 Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel
(2004) |
Navy of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution
Iranian Border Guard Command
|
British Royal Navy
|
Victory |
Victory
- British naval personnel arrested
- 3 patrol boats seized
|
| 2005 Ahvaz unrest (2005)
|
Iranian Government |
Iranian Arabs |
Victory |
Unrest quelled |
| Fatah–Hamas conflict (2006–present)
|
|
|
Ongoing |
Fatah–Hamas reconciliation process
|
| U.S. raid on the Iranian Liaison Office in Erbil
(2007)
|
Iran
Iraqi Kurdistan
|
United States |
Defeat |
- Iranian diplomats captured by the US
- Iranian retaliatory raids against the US
|
| 2007 Iranian arrest of Royal Navy personnel
(2007) |
Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Border Guard Command
|
Royal Navy
|
Victory |
- Two British boats seized
- 15 Royal Navy personnel captured
|
| Iranian Anti-piracy measures in Somalia[441][442]
(2008–present)
|
|
Somali pirates |
Ongoing |
|
| Iran's incursions against the MEK in Iraq
(2009–2013)
|
Iran
Iraq
|
MEK
Supported by:
US |
Victory |
The People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran is disarticulated in Iraq, fleeing to Albania. |
| Sixth Sa'dah War
(2009–2010)
|
Houthis
Alleged support:
Iran
Hezbollah[443]
|
Yemen[444]
Hashed tribesmen[445]
Saudi Arabia
Alleged support:
Morocco[446]
Jordan[446] |
Stalemate |
Ceasefire after rebels accepted the government's truce conditions.[447] |
| Somali Civil War (2009–present) |
Hizbul Islam (until 2010; 2012–2013)
Alleged state allies:
Alleged non-state allies:
Houthis[452][453]
Somali pirates[454]
Allies:
IS-YP[457]
Somali pirates[454]
|
Supported by:
France[467]
Italy[468]
Russia[469][470]
UAE[471]
United Kingdom[472]
Non-combat support:
UNPOS (1995–2013)
UNTMIS (2025–present)
UNSOA (2009–2016)
UNSOS (2016–present)
Council for Somalia's Future
Alleged support:
Ethiopia[476]
United Arab Emirates[477]
|
Ongoing |
|
| Insurgency in Bahrain (2011–present)
|
Bahraini opposition
Supported by:
Iran |
Bahrain
Supported by:
Peninsula Shield Force
|
Ongoing |
Ongoing |
| Iran–Turkey proxy conflict
(2011–present)
|
Iran
|
Turkey
|
Ongoing |
Ongoing |
| 2011 attack on the British Embassy in Iran |
United Kingdom
Iran
|
Anti-Western civilian protesters |
Stalemate |
Defense of the Embassy is reinforced and Iranian government condemns the attacks. |
| 2011–2012 Strait of Hormuz dispute
(2011–2012) |
Iran
|
United States
United Kingdom
France
Australia
|
Stalemate |
- Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz
- Multi-national flotilla established in Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea off coast of Iran
- EU sanctions enforced, banning the export of oil from Iran to the EU countries and freezing Iranian assets
|
Mali War (2012–present)
|
2012–2013
2013–2022/23
2023–present
Native militia (2014–present):
2015–23
|
2012
2012–15
CMA (from 2014)
2023–24
2024–present
2012–present
- CMI (2017–present)
MAA (until 2013)
- Other armed groups and self-defense militias
2012–2017
2017–present
2015–2019
2019–present
|
Ongoing |
|
| Jordanian-Syrian border conflict (2012–2018) |
Syria
Hezbollah
Supported by:
Iran
Russia
Islamic State
|
Jordan
Free Syrian Army
Supported by:
United States
Ahrar al-Sham
Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham
|
Defeat |
- Jordan restores control over the Jordanian-Syrian border
- Syrian government loses a majority of the borders
- All infiltration attempts into Jordan foiled.
|
| Libyan civil war (2014–2020)
|
House of Representatives (Tobruk-based)[499][500]
Wagner Group
(from 2018)
[510][511][512][513][514]
Egypt[515][516][517]
United Arab Emirates[515][518][519][520]
RSF[521] (from 2019)
Ba'athist Syria
(2020)[522][523][524]
Hezbollah (allegedly)[525][526]
Israel
(allegedly, denied by LNA)[527][528][529][530][531]
Iran[532] |
Government of National Accord (Tripoli-based) (from 2015)
Turkey (2020)[560][561][562]
Syrian National Army (from 2019)[563]
Popular Resistance Committees[564][565]
Hamas (LNA claim, denied by Hamas)[566]
National Salvation Government
(2014–2017)[581][582]
Islamic State
(from 2014)[591]
Al-Qaeda
Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries (2014–2017)[597][598]
|
Stalemate |
Ceasefire
|
| Iran's operations against the MEK in Albania
(2016–ongoing)
|
Iran
Albania |
MEK |
Ongoing |
Ongoing. |
| 2016 U.S.–Iran naval incident
(2016) |
Iran
|
United States
|
Inconclusive |
Sailors released unharmed 15 hours later after negotiations |
| Marco Polo operation
(2017–Present)
|
Iran Local Criminals |
Jewish lobby in Europe
Supported by:
Israel
Iranian opposition diaspora
France
Germany
|
Ongoing |
The European Investigative Collaborations since 2023 starts an investigation of criminal networks contracted by Iran's terrorist cells, being arrested two attackers in 2024 by France–Germany collaboration.
- Further Joint statement on Iranian state threat activity in Europe and North America
|
| 2017 Iraqi–Kurdish conflict
(2017) |
Iraq
Supported by:
Iran[607] |
Kurdistan Regional Government
PKK[608]
PDKI[609]
PAK[610]
White Flags (alleged)[611] |
Victory |
Iraqi government forces defeat the Peshmerga and capture 20% of the territory controlled by the Kurdistan Region including the city of Kirkuk, along with the surrounding oil fields and border crossings.[612] |
| Eastern Syria insurgency
(2017–present)
|
|
|
Ongoing |
Inconclusive |
| 2018 attack on the Iranian Embassy in London
(2018) |
Iran
United Kingdom
|
The Mahdi Servants Union |
Victory |
Attackers were arrested |
| Palestinian Authority–West Bank militias conflict
(2022–present)
|
|
|
Ongoing |
Escalation in clashes during the Gaza war |
| 2022 Iran–Greece naval incident
(2022) |
Iran
Supported by:
Russia
|
Greece
Supported by:
European Union
United States
|
Inconclusive |
The Greek seizure was lifted. |
| Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present)
|
Russia
Supported by:
Belarus[u]
North Korea
Iran (alleged, denied by Iran)[460]
|
Ukraine
Supported by:
Military aid to Ukraine |
Ongoing |
Territorial control during the Russo-Ukrainian war. Iran denied any involvement in the war.[61] |
| Sudanese civil war (2023–present)
|
Darfur Joint Protection Force (from November 2023)
Egypt
Supported by:
|
Tamazuj (from August 2023)
Libyan National Army[646][647]
Desert Wolves[648]
Supported by:
SLM (al-Nur)[656]
SPLM-N (al-Hilu) (June 2023 – February 2025) |
Ongoing |
Iran–Sudan relations are restored and Iranian-Houthi Sphere of influence is expanded in the Red Sea.[657] |
| The Sunflower case
(2023)
|
Iran |
Politicians related to Vox
Supported by:
Iranian opposition diaspora
Spain
Netherlands
|
Defeat |
|
| Attacks on US bases during the Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)
|
Iran
Ba'athist Syria (until 2024)[658]
Proxies:
Islamic Resistance in Iraq
Syrian Hezbollah[659]
Liwa Fatemiyoun[660]
Popular Mobilization Forces[661]
|
United States
United Kingdom[662] Supported by:
Jordan[663]
Rojava
Al-Tanf Garrison[664][665][73][666] |
Ongoing |
Current stalemate. The US withdraws from Hemo base in Northeastern Syria. |
| 2024 Iranian operations inside Australia
(2024)
|
Iran (alleged) |
Australia
Supported by:
Israel |
Defeat |
The terrorist perpetrators were arrested and the Australia–Iran embassies were closed. |
| Syrian conflict (2024–present)
|
|
Syria[v]
Counter protesters[674]
Supported by:
Jordan
Turkey
Arab Tribal and Clan Forces
Northern Syria
Supported by:
Kurdistan Workers' Party
ISIL
Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah[citation needed]
Israel
Druze militias
|
Ongoing |
Current stalemate. |
| 2025 Iraq drone attacks |
Popular Mobilization Forces (alleged)
Iran (alleged)
|
Iraq
Kurdistan
United States
|
Victory |
Successfull attack on Foreign military facilities and oil refineries. |
| 2026 Kurdish–Iranian crisis
|
|
Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan (CPFIK)
Supported by:
|
Ongoing |
|