Despite destructive joint attacks by the United States and Israel, Iran has continued to demonstrate remarkable resilience. Analysts say this resistance is largely linked to a distinctive Iranian military strategy.
Iran’s military doctrine and defence structure have played a key role in countering enemy operations. The country’s defence policy is not limited to conventional warfare but is designed in a cautious and unconventional manner.
According to analyst and columnist Amir Hashim Khakwani, Iran’s ability to withstand pressure is largely due to its decentralised military command and the “Mosaic Defence” strategy, which he explains in detail.
Iran’s Unique Mosaic Defence System
Under the Mosaic Defence concept, the entire defence structure is divided into small, autonomous units. This ensures that even if the central command and control system is disrupted, individual units can continue fighting independently.
Iran has established 31 autonomous units, each led by a unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in their respective provinces. These units operate independently in areas such as drone warfare, ballistic missile operations and guerrilla tactics.
In addition, Iran has adopted mobile missile launchers, underground missile bases, local militia groups and unconventional warfare techniques. These measures make it difficult for adversaries to identify clear targets while enabling rapid and flexible responses to attacks.
Five Pillars of the Strategy
The Mosaic Defence strategy is built on five main pillars:
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Local empowered commanders
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Mobile missile units
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Underground “missile cities”
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Local militia groups
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Unconventional warfare tactics
As a result, this distinctive defence approach has not only limited the impact of external aggression but has also demonstrated the resilience and endurance of Iran’s military posture—an approach that international military analysts are observing with considerable interest.
