What states dominated Western Asia before the Persian conquests?

The most developed states of the Ancient World were Urartu, Media, Phenicia, Syria, Babylon, Egypt. The Assyrians were the first to master the manufacture of iron and this allowed them to equip their army with a new type of weapon. Having strengthened the power of the armed forces, the Assyrians began wars of conquest with their neighbors. Having conquered the whole of Mesopotamia, the army of the Assyrians advanced to the shores of the Mediterranean. As a result of the successful conquests, Assyria became a huge empire from the Upper to the Lower Sea. All the lands of Asia Minor and Western Asia became subject to the Assyrian king.