Iranian Army Says Military Doctrine Is Shifting From Defensive to Offensive
Iran’s army says it is moving away from a primarily defensive military doctrine and adopting a more offensive approach, citing lessons learned from recent conflicts.
Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia, an Iranian army spokesman, told state media that the shift developed during what he described as the recent 12-day and 40-day wars. He said the new approach does not necessarily mean launching pre-emptive attacks, but involves responding rapidly and potentially more broadly when Iran is attacked.
Akraminia claimed Iran had used elements of this strategy by striking a US base in Jordan before the United States entered the conflict, saying the attack caused significant damage. These claims were presented by Iranian authorities and were not independently verified in the report.
The spokesman also said Iran had prepared a plan to reward people who kill or capture US troops if American forces enter Iranian territory. Under the plan, he said, eligible participants would receive financial rewards, with higher payments proposed for actions carried out by women.
Iran has also merged the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters with the General Staff of the Armed Forces, which Akraminia said would improve coordination, unity of command and the speed of military decision-making.
Meanwhile, Iran says it is seeking information about three army Su-24 pilots whose status remains unclear after an attack on a US base in Qatar. Tehran says it is pursuing the matter through diplomatic and legal channels.
Akraminia also argued that US influence in the region has weakened, pointing to emerging defence cooperation involving Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan as evidence of a changing regional security landscape.
