Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (Iran)
The Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics 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. 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, as well as non-state actors like Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The ministry is considered one of the three "sovereign" ministerial bodies of Iran due to nature of its work at home and abroad.
History
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. Two investigatory commissions were formed, one for examining previous promotions and the other for materiel procurement. Under Mossadegh, some 15,000 personnel were transferred from the army to the gendarmerie and 136 officers, including 15 general officers, were purged.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.Development of space technologies
The spokesperson for the Space Industries Organization of the Ministry of Defense announced that, through the efforts of the country's space scientists, we have achieved the technology of multiple satellite launches to high orbital altitudes.Attending international exhibitions
The Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Support in exhibition; for instance, it showcased various achievements of Iran's defense industry at the Baghdad International Security and Defense Exhibition.Subordinates
Iranian military industry, under the command of the Ministry of Defence, is composed of the following main components:| Organization | Field of activity |
| Iran Electronics Industries | Electronics, communications, e-warfare, radars, satellites, etc. |
| Defence Industries Organization | Tanks, rockets, bombs, guns, armored vehicles, etc. |
| Aerospace Industries Organization | Guided missiles systems, etc. |
| Aviation Industries Organization | Aircraft, UAV, helicopters, etc. |
| Marine Industries Organization | Ships, hovercraft, submarines, etc. |
| Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research | Defence related research and development. |
| National Geographical Organization of Iran | Matters related to military maps, national borders and geographical services required by the Armed Forces. |
| Malek-Ashtar University of Technology | 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. 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.
Aerospace Industries Organization
Aerospace Industries Organization is a subordinate of the Iranian defence ministry and a leading high-tech complex headquartered in Tehran. It is a key player in development and production of space assets of Iran, and has some research center and factory under its control. Shahab ballistic missiles are one of notable products manufactured by the organization.Holding joint exercises
The commander of the Zolfaghar 1403 joint exercise of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army announced that the main phase of the exercise began this morning, in which torpedoes will be launched by the Fateh submarine and the SH helicopter.China's Support for Iran's Military Capabilities
China has been actively rearming Iran, significantly boosting its military capabilities. Chinese-made, Iranian-flagged merchant ships have recently delivered a substantial quantity of sodium perchlorate to Iran, which will be converted into ammonium perchlorate, enough to fuel 260 mid-range missiles. This support comes as Tehran aims to enhance its military amid fears of an imminent attack on its nuclear facilities by the US and Israel.Ministers of Defence since 1979
! colspan="8" align="center" | Minister of National Defence! colspan="8" align="center" | Minister of Defence
! colspan="8" align="center" | Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics