Defensive Future Studies

Defensive Future Studies

Analysis of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces' Strategy in Proxy Wars with an Emphasis on the Protection of Humanitarian Law

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
shahryar nabavi 1
Amir Mesbah kia 2
1 Ph.D. in Public Law, University of Tehran (Farabi Campus), Qom, Iran
2 Assistant professor of Future Studies, IRI Military Command and Staff University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/dfsr.2025.2050178.1877
Abstract
Objective: International Humanitarian Law (IHL) comprises a set of rules within the broader framework of international law, designed to ensure the protection of human rights during armed conflicts. Within the scope of its national security doctrine, Iran’s constitutional framework seeks to redefine the function and conduct of its military forces by invoking concepts such as authority, deterrence, and religious insight. By adopting these standards, the Islamic Republic endeavors to demonstrate its commitment to humanitarian law, particularly in the context of proxy warfare. This paper focuses on the country's behavior and strategies in the context of a matter of reality, rather than justifying and rationalizing the conflict itself.
Methodology: This study is fundamental-applied in nature and follows a pragmatist paradigm. It employs an interpretive model during the exploratory phase and a positivist model in the testing phase. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach and utilizes thematic analysis as its primary strategy.
Findings: Through an examination of the conceptual foundations of IHL, the dynamics of proxy wars, and the responsibilities of state and non-state actors involved, this paper underscores the importance of integrating IHL commitments into Iran’s national security doctrine. It further emphasizes the legal rights and obligations of all parties engaged in armed conflict.
Conclusion: Drawing on the normative elements of IHL, relevant constitutional provisions, and the practical stance of Iran’s revolutionary leadership, this study concludes that adherence to humanitarian law, including in the context of proxy warfare, is regarded as a binding duty within Iran’s national security framework. The ethics of war, in this context, constitutes a foundational principle of the doctrine.
Keywords
Proxy war
humanitarian law
national security doctrine
armed forces
Subjects
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Defensive Future Studies
Volume 10, Issue 38
Autumn 2025
Pages 123-159