Iranian Operational Decision Making: Case Studies from the Iran-Iraq War

Abstract

This paper examines Iranian operational-level military decision-making from the perspective of historical case studies. Specifically, it analyzes the various factors and processes that influenced Iranian military commanders during four major operations of the Iran-Iraq War and what these operations might tell us about current-day military decision-making. Although a significant period of time has elapsed since the war, most of Iran's senior military leaders participated in the conflict, which constituted a defining moment in the history of the Islamic Republic. It is also the only example of a major state-on-state conflict in the post-revolutionary period. Iran's military academies and training centers, therefore, have devoted a great deal of attention to studying the war, in part to derive operationally useful lessons for the present. Thus, despite the passage of time, the war remains relevant to understanding the mindset of today's military leaders in Iran.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA585872

Entities

People

  • Michael Connell

Organizations

  • Center for Naval Analyses

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anti-Tank Missiles
  • Artillery
  • Case Studies
  • Command And Control
  • Disinformation Operations
  • Doctrine
  • Governments
  • Iran Iraq War
  • Iraqi-War
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military Tactics
  • National Security
  • Rocket Propelled Grenades
  • Rotary Wing Aircraft
  • United States
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.