Iran Regarded As Most Powerful After Israelhttp://www.menewsline.com/stories/2006/june/06_22_1.html
LONDON [MENL] -- Iran has been deemed the second most powerful country in the Middle East.
Western analysts determine that even without nuclear weapons, Iran could defeat virtually every country in the Middle East, with the exception of Israel. They point to Iran's large military, arsenal of intermediate-range ballistic missiles and growing defense industry, with more than 200,000 engineers and technicians.
"Iranian leaders believe an effective defensive deterrence can force their enemies to relinquish their threats of pre-emption, believing that such a move would be too costly," the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies said.
In its latest annual military balance, IISS reported that Iran -- with the assistance of China, North Africa, Pakistan and Russia -- manufactures nearly 2,000 products for the military as well as 42 export clients. IISS cited munitions, aircraft, missiles, naval vessels and satellites.