Holy Defense Studies

Abstract The Iran-Iraq War is one of the largest and longest conventional wars between states in the 20th century, significantly impacting the military doctrines and security strategies of both countries. The nature of this war has always attracted interest due to its prolonged duration, high casualties, extensive use of both conventional and unconventional warfare methods (including chemical attacks), as well as its political and geopolitical consequences. This war has profoundly influenced the military strategies of both nations.

In light of this, the aim of this research is to analyze the impact of the political-military experiences from the imposed war on the development of the defense strategy of the Islamic Republic. Specifically, the main question is: What impact did the political-military experiences of the imposed war have on the development of Iran's defense strategy?

In response, it can be stated that these experiences led to the development of the Islamic Republic's defense strategy, which comprises seven components:

1. Culture of sacrifice, martyrdom, and resiliency

2. Popular mobilization

3. Military self-sufficiency

4. Missile deterrence

5. Resistance-oriented ideology

6. Asymmetric warfare

7. Laws of war based on Islamic teachings

These components have been the cornerstone of the Islamic Republic's security and defense policy to date. This study analyzes the main topic using library and internet resources in a descriptive-analytical manner.

Abstract Despite the effective and fundamental role of the Supreme Defense Council during the imposed war, unfortunately, this issue has been less investigated and studied by researchers in this field, and apart from one book, there is no independent research work in the form of a book or article on this important issue in defense studies. Holy has not paid. Because explaining the various aspects of the role of the Supreme Defense Council during the period of imposed war is important as an important and influential issue in examining the process of imposed war; Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a detailed and comprehensive study in this field. The current research seeks to answer the question, what was the role of the Supreme Defense Council in the holy defense? The hypothesis of the research is that the Supreme Defense Council determines the country's defense policy, guides and supervises operational plans, creates the necessary coordination between military and national organizations, determines the war propaganda policy, proposes the appointment of commanders of the three army forces to Imam Khomeini (RA), supports War equipment and finance has played a very effective and essential role in the macro and strategic decisions of holy defense. The research based on the results is of an applied type and the data was collected from reliable sources using the library method and the historical descriptive method was used to analyze the data.

Abstract Within less than a decade, TikTok has evolved from a seemingly trivial entertainment platform into a geopolitical force whose primary influence stems not from user-generated content, but from its distinctive algorithmic mechanisms. This article argues that TikTok’s algorithm, through the engineering of its For You Page, has become an active instrument for shaping, amplifying, and manipulating narratives during global crises. Unlike social media platforms based on “social graphs” (e.g., Facebook) or “news graphs” (e.g., Twitter/X), TikTok generates a highly personalized and emotion-driven “content graph” that has transformed the battlefield of information. Adopting a qualitative, analytical–interpretive–comparative approach, this study investigates the narrative-making role of TikTok’s algorithm during the twelve-day war between Iran and Israel. In this context, algorithmic mechanisms played a decisive role in mobilizing public opinion, delegitimizing adversaries, and shaping global perceptions of the conflict. The findings reveal that TikTok’s algorithm systematically prioritizes emotional, sensational, and simplified content over context-rich, in-depth analyses, thereby fostering polarized narratives and undermining constructive dialogue. This mechanism not only engineers public understandings of reality but also directly influences conflict outcomes by affecting public morale, political mobilization, and international legitimacy. Ultimately, the research underscores the urgent need to reconceptualize “media literacy” for the algorithmic age and contends that understanding the “TikTok tactic” is vital for analysts, governments, and citizens seeking to confront the challenges of contemporary information warfare.

Abstract This study aims to explain the relationship between religious soft power, social capital, and the endogenous progress model in the discourse of sacred defense. The research is qualitative in terms of approach and method, based on content analysis using the logic of critical discourse analysis. Data were collected from selected documents and texts, including statements by Imam Khomeini (RA), wills of martyrs, and the document of the Islamic-Iranian model of progress, and then coded and categorized. The findings showed that religious soft power in the discourse of sacred defense is constructed through themes such as theological duty-oriented, acceptance of guardianship, Ashura representation, and resistance identity. This semantic system leads to trust based on faith brotherhood, the norm of sacrifice, voluntary participation, and national cohesion at the social level, and at the institutional level, it creates implications such as jihadi management, popularization of governance, justice-oriented, and scientific-technological resilience for the endogenous progress model. Accordingly, the results of the research show that there is an internal and multi-level relationship between religious soft power, social capital, and endogenous progress. The innovation of the research is in reinterpreting the Sacred Defense as a semantic-social-institutional device for understanding the indigenous capacities for progress in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Abstract The Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988), referred to in the official discourse of the Islamic Republic of Iran as the “Sacred Defense,” was not merely a military conflict but also a historical and identity‑shaping experience that left profound effects on Iran’s political, security, and discursive spheres. One of the most significant consequences of this experience has been the emergence and consolidation of the “discourse of resistance” in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This discourse is grounded in key components such as confronting external domination, supporting oppressed nations, relying on indigenous capacities, and emphasizing political and security independence. The present study aims to examine the impact of the Sacred Defense experience on the formation and institutionalization of the discourse of resistance in Iran’s foreign policy. The main research question addresses how and through what mechanisms the experience of the war contributed to the emergence and consolidation of this discourse within the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Drawing on the theoretical framework of constructivism in international relations and employing a discourse analysis approach, this study analyzes the relationship between the war experience and the transformation of Iran’s foreign policy patterns. The research adopts a qualitative methodology based on documentary analysis and the examination of texts and sources related to the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.