Iranian sniper or Wookiee? How to tell them apart

Over the weekend Iranian snipers marched in the annual Army Day parade in Tehran in full camouflage, looking less like crack combatants and more like Wookiee extras from a forgotten Star Wars spin-off. So how do you tell the difference?

Iranian army sniper

When and where: now, Iran.

Planet of origin: Earth.

Language: Persian, officially.

Average height: approximately 5ft 8in, without haystack suit.

Weapon of choice: the sniper rifle, presumably, although pictured holding the rather less precise AK-47 assault rifle for some reason.

Strategic advantages: concealment. Would be virtually invisible, for example, at a Star Wars convention, or in a vat of angel hair pasta.

Also sometimes confused with: Cruella De Vil after dry cleaning mishap; a compost heap.

Wookiee

When and where: a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

Planet of origin: Kashyyyk.

Language: Shyriiwook, a system of barks, groans and gargling.

Average height: 6ft 11in (the actor who played Chewbacca, Peter Mayhew, stood at 7ft 3in).

Weapon of choice: the bowcaster, a crossbow firing magnetically accelerated projectiles, according to online resource Wookieepedia.

Strategic advantages: strong, readily lends itself to merchandising.

Also sometimes confused with: the cowardly lion from The Wizard of Oz; Brian Blessed.