Unified National Command; Iran’s Defense Council Revived After 36 Years

DID Press: With the approval of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and in accordance with Article 176 of the Constitution, the Defense Council of the Islamic Republic has been reestablished after 36 years.

This council, as a subsidiary body under the Supreme National Security Council, has been revived to enhance unified command and strengthen wartime management at the national level.

The Defense Council is chaired by the President of Iran, and its members include the heads of the three branches of government, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, the Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, the Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the Minister of Intelligence, and the Supreme Leader’s representative in the Supreme National Security Council.

The revival of this council comes in the aftermath of the recent 12-day war between Iran and the Zionist regime—a conflict that highlighted the critical need for rapid decision-making and operational coordination among Iran’s military and political bodies.

The Defense Council is expected to serve as Iran’s strategic defense think tank, playing a pivotal role in responding to threats and enhancing the Islamic Republic’s deterrence capabilities by enabling swift and centralized strategic decision-making in times of crisis