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Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (Iran)

The Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL; Persian: وزارت دفاع و پشتیبانی نیروهای مسلح, romanized: vezârat-e defa' va poštibâni-ye niruhâ-ye mosallah) is the defence ministry of Iran and part of the country's executive branch. It thus reports to the President of Iran, not to the Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces.

Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics
وزارت دفاع و پشتیبانی نیروهای مسلح
Vezârat-e defa' va poštibâni-ye niruhâ-ye mosallah
Insignia
Map

Flag
Agency overview
Formed1858
TypeGovernment ministry
JurisdictionGovernment of the Islamic Republic of Iran
EmployeesClassified
Annual budget$1.53 billion (2020–21)[1]
Minister responsible
Websitehttp://www.mod.ir/

Unlike many countries, the ministry is not involved with in-the-field military operational command of the armed forces. Instead it is responsible for planning, logistics and funding of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran while the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a separate institution under command of the supreme leader of Iran, has control over the forces.[3] The MODAFL is also the major player in the defence industry of Iran, with multiple conglomerates and subordinates active in research and development, maintenance and manufacturing of military equipment. It annually exports military equipment manufactured in Iran to forces of countries such as Syria, Iraq, Venezuela, and Sudan (the latter ceased in 2019), as well as non-state actors like Hezbollah in Lebanon.[4]

The ministry is considered one of the three "sovereign" ministerial bodies of Iran due to nature of its work at home and abroad.[5]

History

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Emblem of the Former Ministry of War

From the mid-1940s, U.S. Army and later Air Force officers of the Army Mission Iran and later Military Assistance Advisory Group Iran (ARMISH-MAAG) were closely involved in providing a range of advice, support, and reorganizational assistance.

1952–53: Reforms under Mossadegh

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When Mohammad Mossadegh took over the ministry on 21 July 1952, he initiated a series of reforms in the ministry. He named General Ahmad Vossough as his deputy and renamed the ministry from 'War' to 'National Defence', cut the military budget by 15%, and vowed to only purchase defensive military equipment.[6] Two investigatory commissions were formed, one for examining previous promotions and the other for materiel procurement.[6] Under Mossadegh, some 15,000 personnel were transferred from the army to the gendarmerie and 136 officers, including 15 general officers, were purged.[6]

1970s procurement

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1982–89: Two ministries

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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had between 1982 and 1989 its own dedicated defence ministry, mirroring the existing ministry of defence which solely supplied the Islamic Republic of Iran Army during this period. Under President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in 1989, the two ministries were merged into one in order to cease parallel work and reduce interservice rivalry.

Subordinates

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Iranian military industry, under the command of the Ministry of Defence, is composed of the following main components:[7]

OrganizationField of activity
Iran Electronics Industries (SAIRAN)Electronics, communications, e-warfare, radars, satellites, etc.
Defence Industries Organization (SASAD)Tanks, rockets, bombs, guns, armored vehicles, etc.
Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO)Guided missiles systems, etc.
Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO)Aircraft, UAV, helicopters, etc.
Marine Industries Organization (MIO)Ships, hovercraft, submarines, etc.
Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND)Defence related research and development.
National Geographical Organization of Iran (NGO)Matters related to military maps, national borders and geographical services required by the Armed Forces.
Malek-Ashtar University of Technology (MUT)The ministry's educational institution

In August 2018, the Iranian Ministry of Defence declared it had offloaded its shares in Wagon Pars and Iran Airtour.[8] In November 2020, the head of the Research and Innovation Organisation of the defence ministry, the nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was assassinated in an ambush near Tehran.[9]

Aerospace Industries Organization

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Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO, Persian: سازمان صنایع هوافضا) is a subordinate of the Iranian defence ministry and a leading high-tech complex headquartered in Tehran.[10] It is a key player in development and production of space assets of Iran, and has some research center and factory under its control.[10] Shahab ballistic missiles are one of notable products manufactured by the organization.[10]

Ministers of War (1858–1979)

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Reign of the Qajar dynasty
Reign of Reza Shah
Reign of Mohammad Reza Shah

Ministers of Defence since 1979

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No.Portrait MinisterTook officeLeft officeTime in officeDefence branchCabinet
Minister of National Defence
1
Ahmad Madani
Madani, AhmadCommodore
Ahmad Madani
(1929–2006)		22 February 197931 March 197937 daysArmy
(Navy)		Bazargan
2
Taghi Riahi
Riahi, TaghiBrigadier general
Taghi Riahi
(1911–1989)		31 March 197918 September 1979171 daysArmy
(Ground Force)		Bazargan
3
Mostafa Chamran
Chamran, MostafaMostafa Chamran
(1932–1981)		30 September 197928 May 1980241 daysIWHBazargan
Council of the Islamic Revolution
4
Javad Fakoori
Fakoori, JavadColonel
Javad Fakoori
(1936–1981)		10 September 198017 August 1981341 daysArmy
(Air Force)		Rajai
5
Mousa Namjoo
Namjoo, MousaColonel
Mousa Namjoo
(1938–1981)		17 August 198129 September 1981 †43 daysArmy
(Ground Force)		Bahonar
Mahdavi Kani (interim)
6
Mohammad Salimi
Salimi, MohammadColonel
Mohammad Salimi
(1937–2016)		2 November 198114 August 19842 years, 286 daysArmy
(Ground Force)		Mir-Hossein Mousavi I
Minister of Defence
–
Mir-Hossein Mousavi
Mousavi, Mir-HosseinMir-Hossein Mousavi
(born 1942)
Acting		20 August 198421 October 198432 daysNoneMir-Hossein Mousavi I
–
Mohammad-Reza Rahimi
Rahimi, Mohammad-RezaColonel
Mohammad-Reza Rahimi
Acting		21 October 198428 October 19851 year, 37 daysArmy
(Ground Force)		Mir-Hossein Mousavi I
7
Mohammad Hossein Jalali
Jalali, Mohammad HosseinColonel
Mohammad Hossein Jalali
(born 1936)		28 October 198529 August 19893 years, 305 daysArmy
(Ground Force)		Mir-Hossein Mousavi II
Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics
8
Akbar Torkan
Torkan, AkbarAkbar Torkan
(1952–2021)		29 August 198916 August 19933 years, 352 daysNoneRafsanjani I
9
Mohammad Forouzandeh
Forouzandeh, MohammadMajor general
Mohammad Forouzandeh
(born 1960)		16 August 199320 August 19974 years, 4 daysIRGCRafsanjani II
10
Ali Shamkhani
Shamkhani, AliRear admiral
Ali Shamkhani
(1955–2026)		20 August 199724 August 20058 years, 4 daysIRGC
(Navy)
↓
Army
(Navy)		Khatami I
Khatami II
11
Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar
Mohammad-Najjar, MostafaBrigadier general
Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar
(born 1956)		24 August 20053 September 20094 years, 10 daysIRGC
(Ground Force)		Ahmadinejad I
12
Ahmad Vahidi
Vahidi, AhmadBrigadier general
Ahmad Vahidi
(born 1958)		3 September 200915 August 20133 years, 346 daysIRGC
(Quds Force)		Ahmadinejad II
13
Hossein Dehghan
Dehghan, HosseinBrigadier general
Hossein Dehghan
(born 1957)		15 August 201320 August 20174 years, 5 daysIRGC
(Aerospace Force)		Rouhani I
14
Amir Hatami
Hatami, AmirBrigadier general
Amir Hatami
(born c. 1965/1966)		20 August 201725 August 20214 years, 5 daysArmy
(Ground Force)		Rouhani II
15
Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani
Ashtiani, Mohammad-Reza GharaeiBrigadier general
Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani
(born 1960)		25 August 202121 August 20242 years, 362 daysArmy
(Ground Force)		Raisi
16
Aziz Nasirzadeh
Nasirzadeh, AzizBrigadier general
Aziz Nasirzadeh
(1965–2026)		21 August 202428 February 2026 †1 year, 191 daysArmy
(Air Force)		Pezeshkian
–
Majid Ebn-e-Reza
Ebn-e-Reza, MajidBrigadier general
Majid Ebn-e-Reza
(born 1964)
Acting		2 March 2026Incumbent81 daysIRGCPezeshkian

Timeline

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Majid Ebn-e-RezaAziz NasirzadehMohammad-Reza Gharaei AshtianiAmir HatamiHossein DehghanAhmad VahidiMostafa Mohammad-NajjarAli ShamkhaniMohammad ForouzandehAkbar TorkanMohammad Hossein JalaliMohammad-Reza RahimiMir-Hossein MousaviMohammad SalimiMousa NamjooJavad FakooriMostafa ChamranTaghi RiahiAhmad Madani

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Rome, Henry (17 June 2020), "Iran's Defense Spending", The Iran Primer, The United States Institute for Peace, archived from the original on 27 June 2020
  2. ↑ "Iranian Newly Appointed Defence Minister Among Killed High‑Rank Commanders", The Caspian Post, 3 March 2026
  3. ↑ Forozan, Hesam (2015), The Military in Post-Revolutionary Iran: The Evolution and Roles of the Revolutionary Guards, Routledge, pp. 51–53, ISBN 9781317430742
  4. ↑ Iran Military Power: Ensuring Regime Survival and Securing Regional Dominance (PDF), Defense Intelligence Agency, August 2019, p. 90, ISBN 978-0-16-095157-2, DIA-Q-00055-A
  5. ↑ al Labbad, Mustafa (15 August 2012). "Rouhani's Cabinet Seeks New Balance in Iranian Policies". As Safir. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 Abrahamian, Ervand (1982). Iran Between Two Revolutions. Princeton University Press. p. 273. ISBN 0-691-10134-5.
  7. ↑ "Iran Electronics Industries (IEI) | Iran Watch". Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  8. ↑ Iran Defense Ministry Claims It Has Divested From Civilian Businesses, Radiofarda.com, 27 August 2018
  9. ↑ Top Iranian nuclear scientist assassinated near Tehran, Aljazeera.com, 27 November 2020
  10. 1 2 3 Tarikhi, Parviz (2014). The Iranian Space Endeavor: Ambitions and Reality. Springer. p. 38. ISBN 978-3-319-05347-9.

Further readings

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