Executive Summary

We assess that the newly established Iranian Defence Council is genuinely aimed at improving and unifying wartime command after the failures of the 12-day war with Israel and US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The establishment of this Council coincides with broader trends towards ensuring political stability in the country and the strategic placement of political figures. That said, we see the structural weaknesses of Iran’s military are too vast to be resolved through this council in the short-term.

Background: The Defence Council is a body under the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Iran’s highest security and foreign policy council.  The Iranian predident chairs this body under the supervision of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who must approve all decisions made by the SNSC.