Defensive preparedness refers to the preparation and organization of society for military and non-military defense and deterrence. This is achieved through training, motivation, unity of approach, and the provision of weapons and equipment necessary for defense readiness.

In verse 60 of Surah al-Anfal, Almighty Allah states: “Prepare against them whatever you can of [military] power and war-horses, awing thereby the enemy of Allah, and your enemy, and others besides them, whom you do not know, but Allah knows them. And whatever you spend in the way of Allah will be repaid to you in full, and you will not be wronged”.

This verse of the Holy Quran underscores that Muslims must always be prepared—whether in terms of equipment, manpower, or other capabilities—to confront potential enemies. The purpose of such preparedness is the preservation of the religious order and the homeland of Muslims. Accordingly, the state is obliged to allocate the maximum possible resources to defending the Islamic system and deterring the enemies.

When individuals and societies perceive danger and anticipate the possibility of aggression, they place defensive preparedness at the center of their objectives and responsibilities. Readiness to defend life, property, and honor is a fundamental necessity of social life and one of the most widely accepted principles across all societies, both in individual and collective planning.

Defensive preparedness without military and defensive power is neither feasible nor rational. Preparedness becomes meaningful only when military capability—especially physical and psychological readiness at the individual and societal levels—has been achieved. In this regard, the mobility and motivation of human resources take precedence over the mere stockpiling of weapons and military equipment.

Defensive preparedness of the armed forces: Before the Islamic Revolution, the Iranian army functioned as the sole military institution and was organized according to U.S. defense priorities. It constituted one of the main pillars of the Shah’s power in maintaining internal control. Since the Shah viewed his rise to power and political survival as dependent on the military, he relied heavily on it as the main guardian of his regime. Structurally, the army was designed primarily to confront internal threats and preserve the monarchy, lacking the necessary capacity to repel external threats. Its only anticipated external mission was a delaying resistance in the event of a Soviet invasion.

Establishment of the Civil Defense Organization: In 1958, an organization known as the Civil Defense Organization was established under the Ministry of Interior with the aim of protecting the lives and property of the population, institutions, infrastructure, and national resources against natural disasters, unforeseen incidents, air attacks, and the use of all types of weapons and their effects in both peace and war, as well as strengthening morale and fostering cooperation among citizens. Therefore, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of War were tasked with implementing the relevant law.

Formation of the Resistance Force: In 1968, the Ministry of War established the Resistance Force to prepare citizens for participation in home- and village-based defense and to enable effective cooperation with the Imperial Armed Forces in defending the country against any form of aggression or sabotage. Then, all Iranian citizens aged eighteen and above who met the required conditions were enrolled. Throughout their service, members of the Resistance Force—whether in training, exercises, or operations during peace and war—were subject to the disciplinary and penal regulations of the Imperial Army.

Establishment of the National Preparedness and Non-military Mobilization Organization: In 1975, under the National Preparedness and Non‑Military Mobilization Law approved by the National Consultative Assembly, an organization was created under the Prime Minister’s Office to ensure maximum preparedness and coordination among ministries, government agencies, state-owned companies, municipalities, affiliated institutions, and both public and private sectors, as well as the general population, in responding to emergencies. The government was required, in times of crisis, to mobilize human resources, facilities, and national assets as needed to sustain public life and protect national interests in both peace and war, and to support the Imperial Armed Forces during wartime.

Defensive preparedness of the armed forces: At the time of the Islamic Revolution, the army was not adequately prepared even for defense, let alone war. In addition to internal political conflicts and tensions that erupted immediately after the Revolution between revolutionary and liberal sides, the country’s economy had severely weakened. Numerous anti-revolutionary groups were active in various regions, seeking to undermine the central government. Moreover, due to the anti-American nature of the Revolution, the supply and procurement of military equipment were cut off, leaving Iran in a highly vulnerable position.

Defensive preparedness in non-military institutions: After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Article 151 of the Constitution required that the Islamic Republic provide military training programs and facilities for all citizens, in accordance with Islamic principles, so that everyone would be capable of armed defense of the country and the Islamic Republic. In line with the directive of the Leader of the Revolution to establish and mobilize a “twenty-million-strong army”, an organization known as the National Basij Organization was approved by the Revolutionary Council on April 30, 1980. Operating under the Commander-in-Chief and affiliated with the Ministry of Interior, it was tasked with preventing and confronting military, political, economic, and cultural threats, as well as natural disasters.

The National Preparedness and Non-Military Mobilization Organization and the Civil Defense Organization established during the Pahlavi period were merged into the National Basij Organization by a legal decree of the Revolutionary Council on June 25, 1980, with all their budgets, assets, and obligations transferred to the new organization.

Finally, on January 18, 1981, based on a law passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the National Basij Organization was integrated into the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) under the title Basij-e Mostazafin, with command authority formally assigned to the IRGC.⁠[1]