Iranian President Ahmadinejad
Photo: Reuters
US report: Iran's 1st priority is survival
Iran's military strategy aimed at deterring Israel and US, official American report says; Iranian military is large but inefficient, not equipped to counter Israeli army, document says
WASHINGTON – The Iranian military's prime objective is to preserve the regime and deter the US and Israel from striking, a Defense Intelligence Agency report submitted to Senate this week states.
Tehran's nuclear program is similarly mostly aimed for deterrence purposes, the report argues.
"Iran's principles of military strategy include deterrence, asymmetrical retaliation, and attrition warfare," the report says. "Iran's military strategy is designed to defend against external or 'hard' threats form the United States and Israel."
Iran Threat
Associated Press
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"Iran's nuclear program and its willingness to keep open the possibility of developing nuclear weapons is a central part of its deterrent strategy," it says.
The report notes that Iran aspires to become the most influential Mideastern state, but in recent years its ideological objectives have given way to pragmatic considerations of survival.
No new aircraft
The report's declassified notion notes that while Iran's military comprises 20 million soldiers, it is mostly ineffective and unequipped to counter advanced armies such as Israel's or Turkey's."Iran maintains very sizeable military forces, but they would be relatively ineffective against a direct assault by well trained, sophisticated military such as that of the United States of it allies," the report notes. "At present, Iran's forces are sufficient to deter or defend against conventional threats from Iran's weaker neighbors."
The report includes a breakdown of Iranian military equipment, including its tanks, armored personnel carriers, and battleships. According to the report, the Iranian Air Force comprises 52,000 members, including 19 assault squadrons, 10 cargo squadrons, and one intelligence gathering squadron.
However, the report notes that Iran has not procured new aircraft in more than 10 years.
