Iranian military strategy book

This book traces the long history of irans wars, and the evolution of the islamic. Iranian officials appear determined to ensure that the regime maintains this edge and have prioritized boosting irans cyber capabilities in the wake of the nuclear deal. Prior to that, he was the director of research at the us army war college. Cambridge core middle east studies the iraniraq war by williamson murray. The united states is locked and loaded for a retaliatory attack on iran.

A military history of iran and its armed forces and millions of other books are available for. In january 2007 the bush administration authorized the u. Jan 16, 2020 iranians and iraqis are now questioning just how effective the iranian military is. Us struck iranian military computers this week cbn news. Irans military is one of the most powerful in the middle east. Jun 04, 2019 how would irans military fare in an armed conflict with the u. Iranian military strategists began to pay more attention to the principles of modern maneuver warfare, such as combined and joint operations. From 1925 to the iranian revolution in 1979, iran was mostly equipped with western hardware.

How have irans military capabilities developed since 1979. The iran military and nuclear capabilities project provides analytical reports on. Other experiencessuch as the 2003 american occupation of iraq, the war between israel and hezbollah in 2006, and the conflict between palestinian movements and israelhave also yielded lessons that guide the countrys political ideology and strategy. Israeli military history and strategy book digest daniel j. However, there is ample room for miscommunication between iranian and u.

The iraniraq war impact and implications efraim karsh palgrave. Transrational irans transnational strategy for dominance and why it cannot survive great power competition, iran trains, supports, and employs a vast network of nonstate, transnational proxies to advance its foreign policy agenda across the middle east. Throughout its history, iran has often been a significant regional military power. Neo the hydra of the caspian sea, irans naval strategy. A significant iranian military exercise geopolitical futures. Grand strategy may seem an irrelevant idea but its not. Iran insists that its development of military power is not a threat to other regional powers and that it is not intended for offensive use. Under their comma nd, iran s milit ary industry was enormously expanded, and with the ministry of defense pouring investment into the missile in dustry, iran soon accumulated a vast arsenal of missiles. To supplement the decentralization of the iranian military command structure is a culture of sacrifice within the iranian military. Iranian naval and maritime strategy institute for the.

Iranian military strategists began to pay more attention to the principles of modern. General mohammad hossein baqeri, chief of staff of the iranian armed forces said in remarks published on 27 november 2016 that iran needed a fleet in the indian. Bountiful oil revenues and a strategic position overlooking the vital persian gulf oil export routes. The conflict has been compared to world war i in terms of the tactics used. Irans foreign policy often appears to reflect differing approaches and outlooks among key players and interest groups. The workshops goal was to understand the other and its capabilities, as well as its. Confrontation between the united states and iran global. Jan 29, 2020 the only sensible iran strategy is containment. Iranian military planners are adept at incorporating lessons from other conflicts, such as the u. The iraniraq war is one of the largest, yet least documented conflicts in the history of the middle east. Rashid is a member of the irgcs senior leadership network and is regarded as a central figure in the development of iranian military strategy and planning. A few days after our asia times report, an article based on senior sources close to the iranian regime and crammed with fearmongering, baseless accusations of corruption and outright ignorance about key military issues claimed that russia would turn the iranian ports of bandar abbas and chabahar into forward military bases. Aug 04, 2015 the iranian military copies this strategy with all of its serving units beyond the navy, meaning its entire military could operate in this manner within a caspian sea conflict.

More burke chair publications on iran in addition to several published books. Exploring the reach and limitations of iranian power in the middle east by frederic wehrey et al. As a result of the military institution between revolution and statehood workshop, held in riyadh on may 2017, rasanah issued a book that combined all aspects of study on the military institution in iran in both english and arabic languages. Israeli military history and strategy book digest daniel. The iranians have historically used a lot of subterfuge and illusion in support of their military operations but now it appears subterfuge and illusion is a larger component of iranian military power than anyone previously understood. In the current strategic environment, one of our adversaries, for good or ill, is iran.

Combined arms warfare in israeli military history, by david rodman, is an excellent new book assessing israeli military strategy from 1948 through to operation protective edge in 2014. Although iran fell short of declaring an official armed intervention to keep maliki in power, the irgc did send qods force personnel, ground attack aircraft, and a variety of drones to iraq amid growing calls for his resignation. In the same way that iran must focus its formidable land power on a defensive strategy because of its geography, iranian strategy at sea also must be primarily defensive. Its current president, mahmoud ahmadinejad, has made no secret of his opposition to western society, particularly israel, and his desire to acquire nuclear weapons.

Drawing from an extensive cache of captured iraqi government records, this book is the first comprehensive military and strategic account of the war through the lens of the iraqi regime and its senior military commanders. Irans military and nuclear capabilities center for strategic and. Without a grand strategy that explains the ends, works the means and sets out the ways, lowerlevel strategies will be uncoordinated, work at odds with each other and be unlikely to succeed. Iran is therefore unlikely to seek a direct, forceonforce confrontation with the united states. The majority of weapons transfer from iran to the mediterranean takes place via smugglers, who use small, privately owned dhows to convey weapons and. Here are the likely options, which range widely in their degree of provocation to iran and risk to u. There are several reason for this that i will list below. A new era for irans military leadership critical threats.

Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. A strategy to promote and prepare for normalized relations with iran. With the current escalation of tensions in the persian gulf created by iranian military shows of force it is important for united states military leaders to immerse themselves in iranian asymmetric as well as conventional military techniques. Supreme leader khamenei sits as the apex of irans hardliners, who dominate several decisionmaking and advisory councils as well as the islamic revolutionary guard corps irgc.

Sep 27, 2018 the iranian revolutionary guard corps quds force perfected its proxy doctrine during the fight in syria, using asymmetric units as the main ground force but allowing the use of regular military units as support elements if needed. How tehran fits into russiachina strategy the iranian. It should be thought of as a practical problemsolving methodology you can apply to. Irans missile programme was primarily a consequence. Nov 24, 2015 iranian officials appear determined to ensure that the regime maintains this edge and have prioritized boosting irans cyber capabilities in the wake of the nuclear deal.

The islamic revolutionary guards were put in charge of creating what is today known as the iranian militar y industry. Not so, argues this former pentagon defense planner. Its mission is to be an analytical, researchled global forum for informing, influencing and. He is the author of clausewitz and contemporary war, imagining future war and after clausewitz, as well as several articles on military thinking and contemporary war. From iran s perspective, relaxing its regional activities would not ensure that its adversaries would stop trying to weaken or change its regime. Strategy behind killing of top iranian military leader. President donald trumps decision to kill iranian military commander qassem suleimani in a drone strike on jan. Iranian military doctrine is primarily defensive in nature and based on deterring perceived adversaries. Iran may suffer from military disadvantages, but that doesnt stop it from being a major military player in the middle east. How iran could beat up on americas superior military. Mar 07, 2017 while much of the detail with regard to iranian strategy in iraq, afghanistan, and bahrain has occurred too recently to be included in any extensive book study of iranian media strategy, there. S in this feb, 11, 2019, file photo, iranian revolutionary guard members arrive for a ceremony celebrating the 40th anniversary of.

Iranian military doctrine centers on asymmetric warfare. Stephen pelletiere wrote in his 1992 book the iraniraq war. The core objective of president trumps iran strategy is the systemic change in the islamic republics hostile and destabilizing actions, including blocking all paths to a nuclear weapon and. The iranian military in politics, revolution and war, part two. As colin gray declares all strategy is grand strategy. The book s final contribution is to explain why, in contrast to its conventional military strategy, chinas nuclear strategy has remained constant over the same period of time. The iranian military in revolution and war rle iran d doi link for the iranian military in revolution and war rle iran d the iranian military in revolution and war rle iran d book. It must happen after the book of daniel was revealed to. Nations around the world are uncertain and anxious about irans intentions in the middle east and the wider global arena.

There is one military option that would have a severe economic shock but would also limit u. The iranian military in politics, revolution and war, part. As its foreign policy goals shifted, iran s national security strategy also became more defensive. Primary suppliers included the united states, britain, france, west germany, italy, israel, and the soviet union. Institute for national strategic studies mcnair paper book 29.

Cordesman and martin kleiber point out, ahmadinejad does not necessarily speak for the. With a carefully designed attack, washington could mitigate the costs and spare the region and the world from an unacceptable threat. Irans defense and military goals, strategy, plans, and intentions. The author provides an analysis of the underlying cultural frames of reference that form the foundation of iranian society and political motivations, and recommends using this better understanding to diffuse tensions and promote better relations between the united states. This book is a fascinating critical examination of the characteristics and development of the armed forces in iran, their role under the shah and their re. Sudan and iran partner in the conveyance of iranian military equipment bound for iranian proxies or customers in the mediterranean. The iran iraq war 19801988 was a defining moment for the iranian military and it continues to underpin many aspects of iranian military doctrine. Olson abstract the key element of irans military doctrine is its emphasis on ballistic missiles.

The iranian missile program, which is the cornerstone of iranian defense strategy and deterrence, emerged after iran learned the art of reverse engineering missiles it. Iran military strength 2020 iran continues to meet the west headon as it works towards a legitimate military industrial base while attempting to skirt sanctions. Policy is an unprecedented project by 50 of the worlds top scholars on iran representing some 20 foreign policy think tanks, eight universities, and senior foreign policy officials from six u. Irans strategy is to block the chokepoint through mines and employ asymmetric and unconventional naval tactics against enemy warships, such as swarming enemy warships with small, lowcost. Have iranian threats spurred a saudiisraeli alliance. Irans expanding military role in iraq the washington. In closing, general soleimani and other iranian military leaders has created a vicious circle in the region. He emphasized that the military strategy of iran was based on active deterrence for establishment of peace and security in iran and the regional.

Below is the unclassified report in response to the congressional direction. Jun 23, 2019 the irgc, which was designated a foreign terrorist group by the trump administration earlier this year, is a branch of the iranian military. Goals of iranian strategy since the revolution, irans first priority has consistently remained the survival of the regime. Planning for an iranian adversary iranian structure 2003 and iranian strategy ayatollah as executive iranian military development and capabilities missiles. The pentagon on thursday confirmed the killing of qassem soleimani, the leader of irans elite quds force, in iraq.

Irans military strategy does not emphasize external defense. Contrary to what many seem to be speculating, iran probably will not retaliate against israel through a direct military strike. Chinas top party leaders have never delegated responsibility for nuclear strategy to senior military officers. In the mid1990s, there was even talk about merging the irgc. It emphasizes the use of geography, strategic depth, and a general willingness to accept losses in the name of jihad as ways to confront technologicallyadvanced adversaries such as the united states and israel. Egyptian field marshal abdulhalim abu ghazalah on the combat.

The iraniraq war a military and strategic history cambridge. Aware of its strategic significance and millenniumlong civilization, iranian leaders have always aspired to assume a leadership role on regional and international issues and pursued an assertive policy to reach their countrys potential. Armed forces of the islamic republic of iran wikipedia. Saudi arabia, israel, the gulf states and the united states are the countries neat i. Yes, america is the most dominant military power on the planetbut it does have some weaknesses iran could exploit. As is the case with most states, iran does not have a comprehensive, published cyber strategysomething which iranian military leaders have lamented.

The iraniraq war, which lasted from 1980 to 1988, has had a major influence on iranian military strategy. Trump takes massive gamble with killing of iranian commander. Opponents of military action against iran assume a u. The best books on military strategy five books expert. Irans military doctrine michael connell the iraniraq war 19801988 was a defining moment for the iranian military and it continues to underpin many aspects of iranian military doctrine. Hashim is associate professor of strategic studies at nanyang. It is doubtful at the time that anyone realized the one.

Rasanah issues the military institution between revolution. He is thus a natural fit for the highest operational command under the supreme leader. The author analyzes some of the challenges associated with this approach, draws conclusions about the prospects of irans strategy. Nevertheless, the iranian military does have a strength of nearly 900,000 activeduty personnel, rendering it a force to be reckoned with in the middle east despite its old and rusty equipment.

The iranian military in revolution and war rle iran d. Libya and ethiopia reveal irans military strategy libya and ethiopia reveal irans military strategy. Iran has a long, proud tradition of military might dating back to the armies of the achaemenid empire under darius the great and xerxes. The book is strong on narrative, well written, and engaging. Rand corporation, 2009, 203 pp fredric wehrey et al.

An exploration of iranian leadership dynamics by david e. This results from a path dependency created by historical contingencies and critical events, including the iranian revolution, the iraniraq war, and chinese support. Irans national security strategy also became more defensive. All this hour, weve been hearing reaction from around the world to the u.

Drawing from an extensive cache of captured iraqi government records, this book is the first comprehensive military and strategic account of the war through the. From its launch site to the point where it was intercepted by a u. Syria changed the iranian way of war foreign affairs. Otherwise, larger attacks may occur, because the situation might further encourage the iranian side to take action. Iranian military doctrine the washington institute for. A military history of iran and its armed forces, provides a valuable starting point for developing an understanding of that particular adversary. Jan 17, 2014 in the current strategic environment, one of our adversaries, for good or ill, is iran. First, a large naval force of multiple carrier battle groups would have to be deployed for a potentially unlimited time.

Planning for an iranian adversary iranian structure 2003 and iranian strategy ayatollah as executive iranian military development and capabilities missiles iranian threat to iraq and infiltration internal agents. This incident is just one of the latest escalations by iranian military forces in response to bellicose rhetoric from the donald trump administration. Immortal is the only singlevolume englishlanguage survey of irans military history. Irans military forces and warfighting capabilities. This monograph analyzes the structure of, and competing forces within, the iranian government to inform those involved in middle eastern affairs. While this is the case, the us officials have announced that the us troops will be transferred to many central bases by transferring three military bases in iraq to the iraqi army over the next couple of weeks. Occasional paper understanding irans role in the syrian conflict. The regular armed forces have an estimated 398,000 personnel. Echevarria ii is the editor of the us army war college quarterly. While much of the detail with regard to iranian strategy in iraq, afghanistan, and bahrain has occurred too recently to be included in any extensive book study of iranian media strategy, there.

Iran dynamics have grown trickier in the wake of the killing of iranian commander qassem soleimani. The iraniraq war by williamson murray cambridge university press. A new mediumrange missile is fired from an iranian naval ship during a war game on sea of oman near the strait of hormuz in southern iran on january 1, 2012. Jun 30, 2019 professor bajoghli is the author of the forthcoming book iran reframed. The iranian revolutionary guard corps quds force perfected its proxy doctrine during the fight in syria, using asymmetric units as the main ground force but allowing the use of regular military units as support elements if needed.