President Donald Trump has escalated the rhetoric and the military action against Iran, after one week of a war provoked by him and Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.
So as the US engages in a war which Trump now claims could have “boots on the ground”, a horrifying scenario, it is time to examine the challenge of a massive war against Iran, with its large land area and large population.
So some numbers and statistics, which will make clear the massive challenge American troops might face, is in order.
Iran is the 17th largest nation in land area in the world, and is about one-sixth the size of the United States, one sixth the size of all of Europe, and one sixth the size of Canada.
Iran is one-fifth the size of Australia; about half the size of India; four times larger than Iraq; and 80 times the size of Israel.
Iran is about as large as the largest American state, Alaska; more than twice the size of Texas; and the areas of Texas, California, Montana and Illinois combined equal the area of Iran.
Also, the East Coast of the United States from Maine down to Florida is approximately equal to the land area of Iran.
Iran has about 92 million people, approximately one fourth of the population of the United States.
Iran is the 17th most populated country, along with being the 17th largest in land area.
Iran is a highly literate, highly educated nation which has more than doubled in population since the Iranian Revolution of 1979.
It is the ninth largest oil producer and third largest natural gas producer.
It is 77 percent urban and 23 percent rural, with much of the nation being subtropical in climate. It also has its capital, Teheran, which has about 9.6 million people, about one million more than America’s largest city, New York City.
For America to be at war with Iran is a massive challenge, and will not be easily resolved, and could be a war of long duration!