Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In this episode of the Middle East Forum podcast, host Laurie Regan speaks with Iran analyst Alexander Grinberg about Tehran’s decentralized “mosaic defense” doctrine - a strategy built on fragmented command, dispersed power, and autonomous units capable of operating independently.
Drawing on lessons from the Iran-Iraq War, Iran has structured parts of its military to withstand decapitation strikes, allowing missile units and proxy forces to continue operating even under severe pressure. But as Grinberg explains, this approach is about endurance, not victory - and it comes with serious limitations.
The conversation explores how this doctrine shapes Iran’s current military posture, the challenges it creates for U.S. and Israeli strategy, and why eliminating leadership alone may not be enough to stop the system.
Subscribe for more conversations with leading analysts on the Middle East and beyond.
In this episode of the Middle East Forum podcast, host Laurie Regan speaks with Iran analyst Alexander Grinberg about Tehran’s decentralized “mosaic defense” doctrine - a strategy built on fragmented command, dispersed power, and autonomous units capable of operating independently.
Drawing on lessons from the Iran-Iraq War, Iran has structured parts of its military to withstand decapitation strikes, allowing missile units and proxy forces to continue operating even under severe pressure. But as Grinberg explains, this approach is about endurance, not victory - and it comes with serious limitations.
The conversation explores how this doctrine shapes Iran’s current military posture, the challenges it creates for U.S. and Israeli strategy, and why eliminating leadership alone may not be enough to stop the system.
Subscribe for more conversations with leading analysts on the Middle East and beyond.
