World
Iran Reconfigures Military Doctrine from Defense to Offense with Cross-Border Operations and Global Basij
Iran has shifted its military and security doctrine from defensive to offensive, according to senior IRGC official Mohammad Reza Naqdi, who announced readiness for cross-border operations and expanding conflict onto 'enemy territory.'
Announced Lieutenant General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, senior advisor to the Supreme Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a shift in Iran's military and security doctrine from defensive to offensive.
The Iranian military official confirmed that Iranian forces are ready to carry out operations beyond national borders and bring the fight to "enemy lands" upon receiving orders.
Naqdi stated in remarks to Iran's official television that recent confrontations with the United States and Israel constituted a "real maneuver" that allowed Tehran to test its capabilities and assess strengths and weaknesses among its adversaries.
This announcement coincided with sweeping changes in Iran's military command structure, including new appointments and enhanced coordination between the Armed Forces General Staff and the operational headquarters of "Khatam al-Anbiya," aiming to accelerate decision-making and transform the military institution from an administrative framework into a more operationally ready force.
The new strategic directions also include expanding the concept of "combined warfare" by integrating military operations with diplomatic, economic, and media tools, while granting the Basij forces a role extending beyond internal security to spreading what Tehran describes as "Basij culture and ideology" on a global scale.
Basij, meaning "mobilization" in Persian, are volunteer paramilitary forces composed of civilians and serve as a popular and military arm fully under the control of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The Basij have undergone a qualitative transformation in their missions following the appointment of Hussein Tā'ib as head of the organization, evolving from an internal defensive system aimed at countering unrest to a key partner in securing infrastructure and supporting joint operations. New directives now include "expanding the Basij mindset" beyond Iran’s domestic boundaries to establish flexible, asymmetric defense and offense lines serving Iran’s preemptive offensive doctrine in the region.
In this context, Naqdi spoke of Iran possessing a vast industrial base comprising over 950 cities and industrial complexes, warning that targeting Iran's missile stockpile would not paralyze its capabilities, and pointing to other means available for striking American interests worldwide.
These shifts have raised concerns about potential impacts on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, which, according to media analyses, could become a tool of pressure and deterrence against the United States. Scenarios under discussion include intensifying use of fast boats, drones, and naval mines—though the announcement itself does not signify an imminent Iranian military decision.
Source: Iranian media
