Iran Says New Military Doctrine Embraces Preemptive Strikes

Iran's army spokesperson has said that recent military operations carried out by the country were designed to serve both as a deterrent and as a preemptive measure against potential aggression.

Speaking on state television, Brig. Gen. Mohammad Akramnia outlined a shift in Iran's military thinking since the 12-day war in 2025. He said the country's doctrine has gradually moved toward preemptive warfare, which he argued is permissible under the United Nations Charter when principles of proportionality, necessity, and immediacy are observed.

"We are defending ourselves. This is legitimate self-defence, and international law allows us to defend ourselves preemptively," Akramnia said.

The spokesperson claimed that in several instances, Iranian forces acted before the United States could launch attacks. "Before they attacked us and committed aggression, we acted for deterrence, in order to genuinely deter them from aggression," he said.

Akramnia also referenced strikes on bases in Jordan, Syria, and areas of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where he said separatist and counter-revolutionary groups were based. He alleged these groups had received large quantities of weapons from former U.S. President Donald Trump to carry out ground operations against Iran.

He said the preemptive operations had deprived such groups of initiative and that the process would continue. "Wherever we perceive a threat, we will carry out preemptive operations within the framework of international law in defence of our rights," he added.

Iran has previously said it targets U.S. facilities and interests in neighbouring countries in response to American strikes on its territory.