Iran's 'Mosaic Defence' Doctrine: A Strategy Decades in the Making

Mar 2, 2026

57 min

125

Mar 2, 2026 11:31

'Mosaic Defence' doctrine: Iran studied US wars for 20 years, says Abbas Araghchi — what it means

## Iran's Strategic Military Approach

Iran has developed a military strategy known as the "Mosaic Defence" doctrine, which has been in the works for over 20 years. This approach is designed to withstand military pressure from the US and Israel, even in the event of significant leadership losses.

## Decentralised Command Structure

The doctrine emphasizes a decentralized command structure, allowing regional commanders to operate independently if central communications are disrupted. This strategy disperses command and operational units across Iran's vast territory, making it difficult for adversaries to target a single point of failure.

## Lessons from US Conflicts

Iran's strategy is informed by US military engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq, where initial battlefield successes did not translate into long-term stability. Iran aims to avoid these pitfalls by decentralizing authority and extending conflicts across multiple domains.

## Strategic Significance

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi highlights the resilience of this approach, suggesting that even if Iran is struck hard, its "mosaic" of defense can continue to function. This strategy serves as both a domestic reassurance and a warning to adversaries that military escalation will not easily dismantle Iran's defense capabilities.

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