Iran's Defence Council prepared to deal with Israel: Reports

 
Tehran is set to activate a new "Supreme Defense Council" as part of significant structural changes within the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), according to reports from Iran's Fars and Tasnim news agencies published Friday and Saturday.

The council, a long-dormant constitutional provision, is expected to play a pivotal role in the formulation of strategic defense policies, reports Tehran Times.

Fars News reported that "informed sources" confirmed the creation of the Defense Council following the finalization of structural changes within the SNSC.

It described the new body as having "strategic missions in the field of the country's defense policies," adding that its structure "will be finalized soon" and represents "part of the new governance arrangement in the field of defense and security."

Tasnim provided further detail on Saturday, citing Article 176 of the Iranian Constitution. The article explicitly states that the SNSC "shall form subordinate councils, such as a Defense Council and a National Security Council, commensurate with its duties." Tasnim reported that the structure of the Defense Council itself was approved "a few days ago" based on this constitutional authority.

According to their sources, the President will chair the council, with a military figure likely appointed by the President as its secretary.

Key objectives reportedly include "supporting the comprehensive strengthening of the country's defense capability," "increasing the speed of decision-making in the country's defense sector," and incorporating additional military commanders beyond the Chief of the Armed Forces General Staff (who is already on the SNSC).

Tasnim's report also listed potential members, suggesting the council would include the heads of the three branches of government, two representatives of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution within the SNSC, the Minister of Intelligence, the Chief of the Armed Forces General Staff.

, the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (Artesh), and the Commander of the Central Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters.

Historically, a Supreme Defense Council operated during the Iran-Iraq War under Article 110 of the Constitution, with many of its duties later assumed by the post-constitutional revision SNSC under Article 176.

The formation of the Defense Council, as reported, appears designed to streamline high-level defense decision-making within Iran's constitutional framework, reflecting lessons learned from the 12-day U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and a leadership consensus on maintaining the highest levels of military readiness against perceived enduring threats.