What Is Iran’s Mosaic Defence?
News Desk
Tehran: Iran’s military employs a unique strategy known as the “Mosaic Defense”, designed to maintain resilience and operational continuity even if central command structures are disrupted.
Developed by former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Mohammad Ali Jafari, the approach decentralizes military power into regional units across the country.
Under this system, the IRGC, Basij Force, regular army units, missile forces, and naval commands operate as a defensive network that can function independently.
The IRGC alone is organized into 31 provincial commands, with each province maintaining its own intelligence, weapons, and command capabilities.
According to military expert Dr Michael Connell, the purpose of the Mosaic Defense is to spread Iran’s military capabilities so widely that they are extremely difficult to disable completely.
The effectiveness of Iran’s decentralized defense was put to the test following recent Israeli attacks that targeted senior Iranian officials.
In eastern Tehran, senior National Security Advisor Ali Larijani, his son Morteza Larijani, and an aide were killed. Separately, Basij militia chief Gholam Reza Soleimani was also martyred in another Israeli strike. Larijani’s death was confirmed on his X account, with a post stating, “A servant of God has met God.”
Reacting to the attacks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Al Jazeera that Iran’s political, economic, and social institutions ensure the state’s stability regardless of the loss of individual leaders.
Araqchi emphasized that the United States and Israel have misunderstood Iran’s system, which is structured around institutions rather than personalities. He stressed that targeting senior figures does not weaken the country’s state or military capabilities, underlining the strength and resilience of Iran’s Mosaic Defense strategy.
This decentralized defense framework, combined with a robust institutional structure, highlights Tehran’s approach to safeguarding its national security amid regional tensions and targeted attacks.
