Iran (IMNA) - Iranian military officials say rapid advances in security and defense technologies have accelerated a shift toward a knowledge-based defense model, in which emerging technologies are no longer auxiliary tools but the backbone of national deterrence. Artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems, laser technologies and quantum capabilities are increasingly described as the basis of what commanders call “smart power generation,” aimed at countering external threats while mitigating the long-term effects of international sanctions.
During a visit to Imam Hossein University on Dec. 17, Iran’s Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Seyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, stressed the strategic importance of acquiring and indigenizing power-enhancing technologies. He highlighted the university’s role in training specialized human resources, producing indigenous knowledge and aligning academic research with the operational needs of the armed forces. Mousavi described the institution as a model revolutionary-standard university that combines idealism with practicality, warning that future conflicts will be shaped primarily by technology and that neglecting this field could impose irreversible costs.
Similar assessments have been voiced across Iran’s military branches. Brigadier General Ali Jahanshahi, commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Force, has pointed to significant progress in artificial intelligence, quantum technology, unmanned systems and laser-based capabilities, saying Iran has reached a stage of effective operational power in these areas. He said such capabilities are critical for countering hybrid, cognitive and combined warfare approaches, which Iranian officials say are being pursued by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran.
In the maritime sphere, Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, has identified artificial intelligence as a key factor in transforming Iran’s naval power. Speaking at a national conference on maritime threats, he said unmanned surface vessels, drones, missiles and submarines are the main platforms for AI integration, adding that future naval missions will be impossible without intelligent and autonomous systems.
Meanwhile, Major General Amir Hatami, Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Army, has described deterrence-oriented technologies as a strategic necessity. In a message marking Research Week, he said the armed forces are pursuing technologies that clearly signal readiness and strength to adversaries. Hatami emphasized cooperation with universities, scientific centers and knowledge-based companies as essential to overcoming sanctions and constraints, cautioning that falling behind in emerging technologies would increase vulnerability on future battlefields.
Air defense has also been highlighted as a central element of the technology-focused doctrine. During a visit to the Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Headquarters, Mousavi underlined the continuous strengthening of air defense capabilities, attributing recent progress to cooperation among scientists, defense industries and operational units. He said the expansion of detection, monitoring and forecasting networks for advanced threats is part of a broader strategy to protect Iranian airspace from evolving challenges.
Taken together, these statements point to the emergence of a coherent military doctrine within Iran’s armed forces that places technology at the core of deterrence rather than as a supporting component. Against the backdrop of recent regional developments and heightened tensions with the United States and the Israeli regime, Iranian officials say technological self-reliance is being transformed into a strategic advantage, with sanctions reframed as a driver of innovation.
Unmanned systems, intelligent platforms and advanced technologies now form a central pillar of Iran’s defense architecture, allowing the country to exert influence in regional security dynamics at comparatively lower cost. At the same time, analysts note that financial constraints, international pressure and the rapid pace of global technological change underscore the need for sustained innovation and long-term investment in research and development.
Overall, the emphasis placed by Iran’s military leadership on power-generating technologies reflects an assessment of the future character of warfare, in which superiority is determined less by troop numbers or traditional hardware and more by technological intelligence, adaptability and speed in responding to emerging threats.
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