Holy Defense Studies

Abstract The Holy Quran introduces revolutionary vision as a guiding light and jihadi vision as a sword on the path of establishing religion. These two concepts are emphasized in a combined manner in surahs such as Anfal and Muhammad. The main goal of this research is to identify the dimensions, components, and indicators of the revolutionary and jihadi vision pattern in the eight years of the sacred defense. This research is of an applied-developmental type that was conducted using a historical-analytical method with a sample size of 50 people. The data collection tool is field and documentary. Based on the findings of the research, revolutionary and jihadi vision in the sacred defense presented a lasting model of resistance for the founder of the modern Islamic civilization and are the two wings of the Islamic Revolution, one is a guiding light in the darkness of sedition and the other is a driving engine on the path of progress and resistance. A society that has these two characteristics is resistant to internal and external threats and can walk the path of Islamic civilization with authority. According to the research results, revolutionary insight is the fundamental layer and jihadi insight is the operational layer. The fundamental layer includes the cognitive and emotional dimensions, while the operational layer includes the behavioral dimension. The revolutionary and jihadi insight model in the victories of the Holy Defense era includes 2 layers, 3 dimensions, 11 components, and 91 indicators.

Abstract Within the ongoing geopolitical rivalry between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States in West Asia, the 12-day imposed war initiated by the Israeli regime against Iran represents a pivotal development in the reconfiguration of Washington’s containment strategy. This study seeks to examine the strategic logic underpinning U.S. foreign policy toward this crisis and to analyze how it aligns with broader mechanisms of containing Iran within the Western liberal–security order. Drawing upon defensive realism, Stephen Walt’s “balance of threat” theory, and the logic of containment, the research employs an explanatory analytical approach based on qualitative content analysis of official documents, U.S. government statements, and reports produced by think tanks such as RAND and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The findings indicate that the United States interpreted the conflict not merely as a military confrontation between two actors, but as an integral component of its grand strategy to contain Iran and preserve Israel’s strategic superiority within regional power dynamics. From Washington’s perspective, the Iranian threat is multidimensional encompassing ideological, geopolitical, and technological components alongside military capabilities and possesses the potential to alter the regional balance of power to the detriment of U.S. allies. Accordingly, U.S. policy combined direct containment measures such as diplomatic pressure, economic sanctions, and limited strikes against critical Iranian infrastructure with indirect containment through enhanced military and intelligence support for Israel and regional coalition-building.

Abstract The discourse of resistance, as one of the fundamental components of the foreign and defense-security policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, plays a pivotal role in shaping regional policies and responding to external security threats. In the era of social networks, celebrities, as media figures with widespread influence, have become one of the key actors in promoting discourses and shaping public opinion. This is something we have also witnessed during the 12-day war. This research aims to analyze the role and extract a conceptual model of the performance of Iranian celebrities in promoting the discourse of resistance during the 12-day war, using a qualitative mixed methodology, content analysis and semi-structured interviews.

The findings showed that celebrities played an effective role in stabilizing and deepening the resistance discourse through the dual representation of “us / others”, legitimizing the resistance, witness-based narratives, and indirect exposure to competing discourses. Based on these findings, a three-layer model of celebrity activism was calculated at three levels: discursive, media, and agonistic, and the interaction of these three layers is effective in explaining the role of media people in the war of narratives and discursive competition.The above model can help promote soft security within the framework of agonistic competition of discourses by providing a new conceptual model of the role and layers of action of celebrities and can be utilized as a basis for cultural policymaking and media studies in the future of the country's cyberspace

Abstract The growing use of digital media has made them an important tool in the media war. Publishing holy defense content is an important way to counter cultural aggression. publishing content requires understanding the characteristics of these media and their audiences. The purpose of this research is to explain how to reproduce various types of holy defense content in digital media.

This research was conducted using two methods: library research - documentary and in-depth interviews, and 20 experts on the media and the Islamic Revolution were interviewed. After analyzing the data with Max Quda, the findings showed that digital media are different from traditional media in terms of characteristics such as the right to choose, the amount of consumption, etc., and the audiences in these media are different in terms of components such as the level of access, age and intellectual spectrum, etc. On this basis, points were explained for publishing 8 general categories of sacred defense content. Also, considering the advantages found for audio, including the power to express abstract topics, elite audience, and ease of use. Further consideration was given to the audio form and features for a suitable podcast were explained. In the context of audio books, the most important element for correct narration was determined to be observing the appropriate tone, and in the context of audio-based stories, while explaining the flexibility of this format for narrating different genres, principles such as dramatic nature and suitability with the platform were raised as points found.

Abstract The imposed war initiated by Iraq against Iran commonly referred to in Iran as the Sacred Defense stands as one of the most turbulent and formative periods in the country’s contemporary history.Beyond its political, social, and economic repercussions, the war profoundly affected public health and posed unprecedented challenges for Iran’s healthcare system.The purpose of this study is to examine the activities of the Ministry of Health and its guiding role during the war.Particular attention is given to the challenges encountered, the strategies adopted to address them, and the long-term effects of this period on Iran’s healthcare infrastructure.This research seeks to elucidate the position, performance, and valuable experiences of the Ministry of Health throughout the war by combining theoretical knowledge with practical insights. Methodologically, it is grounded in a historical and retrospective approach, employing a descriptive-analytical framework. The primary sources consist of archival records, newspapers, library materials, databases, and memoirs of medical personnel who served on the frontlines.The findings demonstrate that the Ministry of Health, through effective organization, collective and individual efforts, and the utilization of both domestic and foreign resources, was able to meet the urgent medical and health needs of soldiers and war casualties in a highly effective manner.The lessons gained during this period ultimately became an enduring asset for strengthening Irans healthcare system in the years that followed. As one of the few studies dedicated specifically tothe Ministry of Health’srole during the Iran-Iraq War,this paper contributes both to the scholarly field and to future research in related areas

Abstract This research examines the foundational pillars of the Iranian nation’s victory in the 12-Day Defense of 2025 against Israel and its supporters through a systematic discourse analysis of the statements delivered by the Supreme Leader during the conflict. The central inquiry investigates which elements are foregrounded in the Leader’s discourse as the principal determinants of the Islamic Republic’s success, and how these elements are discursively constructed to articulate narratives of resistance and triumph. The dataset comprises televised messages and official speeches delivered by the Supreme Leader from the onset to the conclusion of the confrontation. Using a qualitative content analysis informed by discourse-analytical principles, the study identifies three dominant and recurrent components: faith, knowledge, and resolve. Within the discourse, faith is framed as a spiritual and integrative foundation; knowledge is represented as a scientific and technological asset that strengthens deterrence; and resolve is portrayed as the psychological and socio-political driving force of national endurance. The interplay of these elements collectively constructs a coherent representation of Iran’s national power. Furthermore, the findings reveal that the Iranian nation’s resistance is presented not solely as a military endeavor but as an expression of collective will in confronting global hegemonic pressures. By emphasizing these three pillars, the Leader’s discourse not only reinforces internal cohesion but also conveys a clear message of deterrence and strategic confidence to external audiences. This study contributes to the scholarly understanding of the interrelationship among faith, knowledge, and resolve in shaping the Islamic Republic’s resistance discourse.