The Pezeshkian administration pursues a ‘smart defense doctrine’ to safeguard…

🖥 The Pezeshkian administration pursues a ‘smart defense doctrine’ to safeguard security and sustainable development 📌 Tehran, IRNA – The administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian has placed national security and the strengthening of Iran’s defense capabilities at the heart of its approach to sustainable development on the grounds that security is a prerequisite for economic stability, investment, and national power. Since taking office in late July 2024, the administration has faced a series of security challenges and has increasingly emphasized “active deterrence” in response to regional tensions and Israeli actions. Against this backdrop, it has viewed defense spending not merely as a current expense but as a strategic investment aimed at safeguarding political and economic stability. The administration has pursued a combination of strategic realism and reliance on indigenous military technology, maintaining that stronger defense capabilities can provide a secure environment for economic growth. President Pezeshkian has repeatedly stressed the need to maintain the readiness of Iran’s Armed Forces and pledged support for defense modernization, logistical assistance, and the development of operational infrastructure. In one such instance, the president said his administration would support programs to strengthen the country’s deterrence capabilities. His executive deputy, Mohammad-Jafar Qaem-Panah, also said security was a prerequisite for people’s livelihoods, arguing that preserving defense capabilities was essential to protecting the country’s economic and social stability. The administration’s support for the Armed Forces has also been reflected in its budget priorities. According to official figures, military and security sectors accounted for around 16 percent of the budget for the current Iranian calendar year that started on March 21, amid heightened security challenges and two recent rounds of wars waged by Israel and the United States. Strengthening defense capabilities as a strategic investment in national security Iran’s ability to withstand military pressure cannot be measured solely by comparing defense budgets with those of major military powers. Despite the vast disparity in resources, Iran has relied on indigenous technologies and asymmetric capabilities to maintain deterrence and withstand pressure from adversaries. An example is the US, where public debt is rising in the wake of the imposed war on Iran, creating challenges for the Trump administration, whose inability to achieve political objectives through military pressure on Iran, including over the Strait of Hormuz, has caused public backlash and also highlighted the limits of military power when confronted with determined resistance. Against this backdrop, the Pezeshkian administration’s defense policy is presented as a “smart defense doctrine” centered on three priorities: safeguarding national security, advancing indigenous defense technologies, and creating synergy between military power and diplomacy. Strengthening defense capabilities is not aimed at military expansion but is viewed as a strategic investment in national security, stability, and sustainable development. 📲 ​