Iran Army CoS: 12-day war shaped new Iranian military strategy

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
13 Oct 2025 19:25

Iranian Army chief Amir Hatami says lessons from the 12-day war reshaped Iran’s defense doctrine to counter "Israeli" aggression and future threats.

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Chief of Staff of the Iranian Army, Major General Amir Hatami in an undated photograph (Iranian media)

The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Army, Major General Amir Hatami, stated that the recent 12-day war "provided us with lessons equivalent to 12 years of experience."

Speaking during a meeting with the Iranian Parliament’s National Security Committee, Hatami emphasized that these developments have prompted a re-evaluation of Iran’s military approach.

"Based on these insights, we have adopted new visions to confront any threat, which will lead to more effective actions to confront and severely punish the enemy," he said.

Hatami noted that the Iranian military strategy now incorporates broader readiness measures, particularly in cooperation with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The experience of the recent war has reinforced the need for robust deterrence capabilities.

"Peace through strength": military power over diplomacy

The Iranian army chief stressed that the concept of "peace through strength" reflects a world order shaped by force, not diplomacy.

He explained, "The essence of this concept means asserting dominance over the world through military power."

Hatami added, "Diplomacy today is far weaker than it was in the past."

Hatami pointed to repeated instances of "Israeli" aggression, saying: "The dominant logic today, from the perspective of the hegemonic system, is the logic of force. We have seen clear examples of this in the aggression of the Zionist entity against Gaza, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and Qatar."

The IRGC and the Iranian army are increasingly aligned in their response strategies, according to Hatami, who concluded that “the only way to overcome this logic is to become strong and capable.”

Iran gives warning against Israeli ceasefire breaches in region

Separately, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated in a weekly press briefing on Monday that Tehran demands an end to "Israel's" aggressions against Gaza, and calls for the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

"The experience in our region over the past few decades, including the Zionist regime's ... lack of commitment and the frequent violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon, with more than 4,500 cases of ceasefire violations, requires those who are concerned about peace to be vigilant so that the [Israeli] regime will not repeat its long-standing habit of breaking promises and committing criminal acts," he stated.

Baghaei added that the ceasefire between the Palestinian Resistance and "Israel" was the result of 700 days of bombardment and starvation against the besieged population of Gaza, later confirming Iran's position that the war in Palestine must ultimately end.

"Iran ... can both counter any threat appropriately and create an opportunity from within a challenge," the foreign ministry spokesperson added, highlighting Tehran's readiness to navigate the evolving regional landscape.