Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (Iran)
| وزارت دفاع و پشتیبانی نیروهای مسلح Vezârat-e defa' va poštibâni-ye niruhâ-ye mosallah | |
 Insignia | |
 Flag | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1858 |
| Type | Government ministry |
| Jurisdiction | Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran |
| Employees | Classified |
| Annual budget | $1.53 billion (2020–21)[1] |
| Minister responsible |
|
| Website | http://www.mod.ir/ |
The Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL; Persian: وزارت دفاع و پشتیبانی نیروهای مسلح, romanized: vezârat-e defa' va poštibâni-ye niruhâ-ye mosallah) is the defence ministry of Iran and part of the country's executive branch. It thus reports to the President of Iran, not to the Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces.
Unlike many countries, the ministry is not involved with in-the-field military operational command of the armed forces. Instead it is responsible for planning, logistics and funding of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran while the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a separate institution under command of the supreme leader of Iran, has control over the forces.[3] The MODAFL is also the major player in the defence industry of Iran, with multiple conglomerates and subordinates active in research and development, maintenance and manufacturing of military equipment. It annually exports military equipment manufactured in Iran to forces of countries such as Syria, Iraq, Venezuela, and Sudan (the latter ceased in 2019), as well as non-state actors like Hezbollah in Lebanon.[4]
The ministry is considered one of the three "sovereign" ministerial bodies of Iran due to nature of its work at home and abroad.[5]
History
From the mid-1940s, U.S. Army and later Air Force officers of the Army Mission Iran and later Military Assistance Advisory Group Iran (ARMISH-MAAG) were closely involved in providing a range of advice, support, and reorganizational assistance.
1952–53: Reforms under Mossadegh
When Mohammad Mossadegh took over the ministry on 21 July 1952, he initiated a series of reforms in the ministry. He named General Ahmad Vossough as his deputy and renamed the ministry from 'War' to 'National Defence', cut the military budget by 15%, and vowed to only purchase defensive military equipment.[6] Two investigatory commissions were formed, one for examining previous promotions and the other for materiel procurement.[6] Under Mossadegh, some 15,000 personnel were transferred from the army to the gendarmerie and 136 officers, including 15 general officers, were purged.[6]
1970s procurement
1982–89: Two ministries
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had between 1982 and 1989 its own dedicated defence ministry, mirroring the existing ministry of defence which solely supplied the Islamic Republic of Iran Army during this period. Under President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in 1989, the two ministries were merged into one in order to cease parallel work and reduce interservice rivalry.
Subordinates
Iranian military industry, under the command of the Ministry of Defence, is composed of the following main components:[7]
| Organization | Field of activity |
|---|---|
| Iran Electronics Industries (SAIRAN) | Electronics, communications, e-warfare, radars, satellites, etc. |
| Defence Industries Organization (SASAD) | Tanks, rockets, bombs, guns, armored vehicles, etc. |
| Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) | Guided missiles systems, etc. |
| Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) | Aircraft, UAV, helicopters, etc. |
| Marine Industries Organization (MIO) | Ships, hovercraft, submarines, etc. |
| Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND) | Defence related research and development. |
| National Geographical Organization of Iran (NGO) | Matters related to military maps, national borders and geographical services required by the Armed Forces. |
| Malek-Ashtar University of Technology (MUT) | The ministry's educational institution |
In August 2018, the Iranian Ministry of Defence declared it had offloaded its shares in Wagon Pars and Iran Airtour.[8] In November 2020, the head of the Research and Innovation Organisation of the defence ministry, the nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was assassinated in an ambush near Tehran.[9]
Aerospace Industries Organization
Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO, Persian: سازمان صنایع هوافضا) is a subordinate of the Iranian defence ministry and a leading high-tech complex headquartered in Tehran.[10] It is a key player in development and production of space assets of Iran, and has some research center and factory under its control.[10] Shahab ballistic missiles are one of notable products manufactured by the organization.[10]
Ministers of War (1858–1979)
- Reign of the Qajar dynasty
- Mirza Mohammad Khan Sepahsalar (1858 – 1866)
- Aziz Khan Mokri (1866 – 1868)
- Kamran Mirza (1868 – 1871)
- Mirza Hossein Sepahsalar (September 1871 – 1873)
- Firuz Mirza (1873 – 1874)
- Mohammad Rahim Khan Ala ad-Dowleh (1874 – 1874)
- Mirza Hossein Sepahsalar (1874 – 1880)
- Kamran Mirza (1880 – July 1896)
- Mohammad Baqir Khan Shoja al-Saltaneh (July 1896 – November 1896)
- Abdol-Hossein Farman Farma (25 November 1896 – October 1897)
- Wajiullah Mirza (October 1897 – 18 January 1905)
- Kamran Mirza (February 1906 – August 1906)
- Hossein Pasha Khan Amir Bahadur (August 1906 – 28 August 1906)
- Mohammad Taqi Dabir al-Dawla (28 August 1906 – 10 March 1907)
- Kamran Mirza (21 March 1907 – 3 May 1907)
- Mostowfi ol-Mamalek (3 May 1907 – 22 July 1908)
- Hossein Pasha Khan Amir Bahadur (22 July 1908 – 2 May 1909)
- Mostowfi ol-Mamalek (2 May 1909 – 17 July 1909)
- Mohammad Vali Khan (17 July 1909 – 28 April 1910)
- Ali-Qoli Khan Bakhtiari (28 April 1910 – 24 July 1910)
- Ahmad Qavam (24 July 1910 – 11 March 1911)
- Abdol-Hossein Farman Farma (11 March 1911 – 11 March 1911)
- Mohammad Vali Khan (11 March 1911 – 18 July 1911)
- Najaf-Qoli Khan Bakhtiari (18 July 1911 – 31 July 1911)
- Gholam Hossein Khan Bakhtiari (31 July 1911 – 18 January 1913)
- Mostowfi ol-Mamalek (18 January 1913 – 17 August 1914)
- Gholam Hossein Khan Bakhtiari (17 August 1914 – 14 March 1915)
- Hassan Pirnia (14 March 1915 – 30 April 1915)
- Abdol Majid Mirza (30 April 1915 – 17 August 1915)
- Mohammad Vali Khan (17 August 1915 – 4 March 1916)
- Jamshid Khan Sardar Kabir (4 March 1916 – 29 August 1916)
- Abolfath Khan Valatabar (29 August 1916 – 5 June 1917)
- Hassan Pirnia (5 June 1917 – 30 April 1918)
- Lotf Ali Khan Bakhtiari (30 April 1918 – 18 June 1918)
- Gholam Hossein Khan Bakhtiari (18 June 1918 – 7 August 1918)
- Qasem Khan Vali (7 August 1918 – 12 October 1918)
- Fathollah Khan Akbar (12 October 1918 – 3 July 1920)
- Mehdi Vosough al-Saltaneh (3 July 1920 – 26 October 1920)
- Abdollah Khan Hamadani (27 October 1920 – 21 February 1921)
- Masood Khan Keyhan (24 February 1921 – 27 April 1921)
- Reza Shah (27 April 1921 – 19 December 1925)
- Reign of Reza Shah
- Amir Abdollah Tahmasebi (19 December 1925 – 3 July 1926)
- Mohammad Ali Foroughi (3 July 1926 – 2 June 1927)
- Amir Abdollah Tahmasebi (2 June 1927 – April 1928)
- Jafar-Qoli Asad (April 1928 – October 1934)
- Ahmad Nakhjavan (October 1934 – 14 April 1936) (Acting)
- Esmail Amir-Fazli (14 April 1936 – 26 October 1939) (Acting)
- Ahmad Nakhjavan (26 October 1939 – 28 August 1941) (Acting)
- Reign of Mohammad Reza Shah
- Ahmad Nakhjavan (28 August 1941 – 31 August 1941) (Acting)
- Mohammad Ali Foroughi (31 August 1941 – 9 March 1942) (Acting)
- Amanullah Jahanbani (9 March 1942 – 10 August 1942)
- Ahmad Qavam (10 August 1942 – 23 December 1942)
- Ahmad Amir-Ahmadi (23 December 1942 – 27 March 1944)
- Ebrahim Zand (27 March 1944 – 12 October 1944)
- Abdollah Hedayat (12 October 1944 – 26 November 1944) (Acting)
- Ebrahim Zand (26 November 1944 – 4 November 1945)
- Ali Riazi (4 November 1945 – 17 February 1946)
- Ahmad Amir-Ahmadi (17 February 1946 – 27 December 1947)
- Morteza Yazdanpanah (27 December 1947 – 22 June 1948)
- Ahmad Amir-Ahmadi (22 June 1948 – 26 February 1950)
- Morteza Yazdanpanah (26 February 1950 – 2 July 1950)
- Abdollah Hedayat (2 July 1950 – 8 April 1951)
- Ali-Asghar Naghdi (8 April 1951 – 1 December 1951)
- Morteza Yazdanpanah (1 December 1951 – 27 July 1952)
- Mohammad Mosaddegh (27 July 1952 – 19 August 1953)
- Abdollah Hedayat (19 August 1953 – 17 September 1955)
- Ahmad Wosouq (17 September 1955 – 6 May 1961)
- Ali-Asghar Naghdi (6 May 1961 – 30 September 1963)
- Asadollah Sanii (30 September 1963 – 2 January 1971) (Acting:September 30, 1963 – March 9, 1964)
- Reza Azimi (2 January 1971 – 6 January 1979)
- Jafar Shafaghat (6 January 1979 – 11 February 1979)
Ministers of Defence since 1979
| No. | Portrait | Minister | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Defence branch | Cabinet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minister of National Defence | |||||||
| 1 | Commodore Ahmad Madani (1929–2006) | 22 February 1979 | 31 March 1979 | 37 days | Army (Navy) | Bazargan | |
| 2 | Brigadier general Taghi Riahi (1911–1989) | 31 March 1979 | 18 September 1979 | 171 days | Army (Ground Force) | Bazargan | |
| 3 | Mostafa Chamran (1932–1981) | 30 September 1979 | 28 May 1980 | 241 days | IWH | Bazargan Council of the Islamic Revolution | |
| 4 | Colonel Javad Fakoori (1936–1981) | 10 September 1980 | 17 August 1981 | 341 days | Army (Air Force) | Rajai | |
| 5 | Colonel Mousa Namjoo (1938–1981) | 17 August 1981 | 29 September 1981 † | 43 days | Army (Ground Force) | Bahonar Mahdavi Kani (interim) | |
| 6 | Colonel Mohammad Salimi (1937–2016) | 2 November 1981 | 14 August 1984 | 2 years, 286 days | Army (Ground Force) | Mir-Hossein Mousavi I | |
| Minister of Defence | |||||||
| – | Mir-Hossein Mousavi (born 1942) Acting | 20 August 1984 | 21 October 1984 | 32 days | None | Mir-Hossein Mousavi I | |
| – | Colonel Mohammad-Reza Rahimi Acting | 21 October 1984 | 28 October 1985 | 1 year, 37 days | Army (Ground Force) | Mir-Hossein Mousavi I | |
| 7 | Colonel Mohammad Hossein Jalali (born 1936) | 28 October 1985 | 29 August 1989 | 3 years, 305 days | Army (Ground Force) | Mir-Hossein Mousavi II | |
| Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics | |||||||
| 8 | Akbar Torkan (1952–2021) | 29 August 1989 | 16 August 1993 | 3 years, 352 days | None | Rafsanjani I | |
| 9 | Mohammad Forouzandeh (born 1960) | 16 August 1993 | 20 August 1997 | 4 years, 4 days | IRGC | Rafsanjani II | |
| 10 | Rear admiral Ali Shamkhani (1955–2026) | 20 August 1997 | 24 August 2005 | 8 years, 4 days | IRGC (Navy) ↓ Army (Navy) | Khatami I Khatami II | |
| 11 | Brigadier general Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar (born 1956) | 24 August 2005 | 3 September 2009 | 4 years, 10 days | IRGC (Ground Force) | Ahmadinejad I | |
| 12 | Brigadier general Ahmad Vahidi (born 1958) | 3 September 2009 | 15 August 2013 | 3 years, 346 days | IRGC (Quds Force) | Ahmadinejad II | |
| 13 | Brigadier general Hossein Dehghan (born 1957) | 15 August 2013 | 20 August 2017 | 4 years, 5 days | IRGC (Aerospace Force) | Rouhani I | |
| 14 | Brigadier general Amir Hatami (born c. 1965/1966) | 20 August 2017 | 25 August 2021 | 4 years, 5 days | Army (Ground Force) | Rouhani II | |
| 15 | Brigadier general Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani (born 1960) | 25 August 2021 | 21 August 2024 | 2 years, 362 days | Army (Ground Force) | Raisi | |
| 16 | Brigadier general Aziz Nasirzadeh (1965–2026) | 21 August 2024 | 28 February 2026 † | 1 year, 191 days | Army (Air Force) | Pezeshkian | |
| – | Brigadier general Majid Ebn-e-Reza (born 1964) Acting | 2 March 2026 | Incumbent | 57 days | IRGC | Pezeshkian | |
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Timeline
See also
- Islamic Republic of Iran Mine Action Center (2003)
- Military budget of Iran
- Aerospace Industries Organization
- Ammunition Industries Group
- Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research
References
- ^ Rome, Henry (17 June 2020), "Iran's Defense Spending", The Iran Primer, The United States Institute for Peace, archived from the original on 27 June 2020
- ^ "Iranian Newly Appointed Defence Minister Among Killed High‑Rank Commanders", The Caspian Post, 3 March 2026
- ^ Forozan, Hesam (2015), The Military in Post-Revolutionary Iran: The Evolution and Roles of the Revolutionary Guards, Routledge, pp. 51–53, ISBN 9781317430742
- ^ Iran Military Power: Ensuring Regime Survival and Securing Regional Dominance (PDF), Defense Intelligence Agency, August 2019, p. 90, ISBN 978-0-16-095157-2, DIA-Q-00055-A
- ^ al Labbad, Mustafa (15 August 2012). "Rouhani's Cabinet Seeks New Balance in Iranian Policies". As Safir. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
- ^ a b c Abrahamian, Ervand (1982). Iran Between Two Revolutions. Princeton University Press. p. 273. ISBN 0-691-10134-5.
- ^ "Iran Electronics Industries (IEI) | Iran Watch". Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ Iran Defense Ministry Claims It Has Divested From Civilian Businesses, Radiofarda.com, 27 August 2018
- ^ Top Iranian nuclear scientist assassinated near Tehran, Aljazeera.com, 27 November 2020
- ^ a b c Tarikhi, Parviz (2014). The Iranian Space Endeavor: Ambitions and Reality. Springer. p. 38. ISBN 978-3-319-05347-9.
Further readings
- Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL)
- Anthony H. Cordesman, Iran's military forces in transition
External links
- Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics - Iran
- Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) - NTI
- Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics - Iran Data Portal
- Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) - Iran Watch
- Defense Industry Organization - Mindex
- Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics - Open Sanctions
Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics of Iran | ||
| Related Organizations |
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Ministries of Iran | ||
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