Iranian Army Official: We Cannot Predict Exactly What Will Happen Next Year

The Deputy Coordinator of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army expressed concern about the "smartening" of weapons in advanced armies around the world, stating that "today we cannot predict exactly what will happen next year." According to ISNA news agency, Habibollah Sayyari made these remarks on Tuesday, December 17, at the "First National Conference on Command and Control of Cognitive Warfare." The Deputy Coordinator of the Iranian Army discussed the rapid advancements in military technology worldwide, saying, "We cannot prepare for future wars using past experiences. We must utilize past experiences, but have weapons not become smarter? Have methods of warfare not changed? The speed of technological changes is high. Military equipment has changed." Previously, Human Rights Watch reported that the Israeli army uses artificial intelligence, surveillance technologies, and other digital tools to determine who or what to target in Gaza and when. Additionally, on April 14 of this year, the Israeli army, in collaboration with the air forces of the United States, Britain, France, and Jordan, intercepted over 300 drones and missiles launched from Iran, with reports indicating that the use of AI algorithms enabled them to make instant decisions and categorize targets. According to Israeli military sources, the strategic changes in the country are aimed at broader use of artificial intelligence. Habibollah Sayyari further stated, "It is no longer the case that problems can be resolved through negotiation" and warned of "technological and strategic surprises" and "strategic negligence" of the Islamic Republic. Recent developments in the region have been detrimental to the Islamic Republic, and Donald Trump, the elected President of the United States, stated on December 9 that the Islamic Republic of Iran is in a "weak position" due to Israel and its military successes. An Israeli official stated: "We are investing in artificial intelligence to increase information about Iran." On the same day, the Deputy Coordinator of the Iranian Army also warned about what he termed "cognitive warfare," stating that "distrust, delegitimization, desecration, demoralization, and rendering the government ineffective are methods of cognitive warfare that the enemy currently has on its agenda." He also mentioned that "the enemy's cognitive warfare works in the long term and gradually impacts mentalities, and you only realize it when it is too late." Israel targeted Iran's air defense systems in a large-scale attack on October 27, managing to destroy radars, anti-aircraft equipment, and factories producing fuel for ballistic missiles. This attack, which involved 120 fighter jets, has largely left Iran defenseless against future air attacks. These developments occur as Tehran is in a fragile state due to the defeat of its supported forces in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. Hossein Salami, the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, referred to the developments in Syria as "a bitter lesson" and stated that this "great lesson" aligns with the lessons learned from the Iran-Iraq War. According to Yoav Gallant, the former Israeli Defense Minister, these developments have created an opportunity for "necessary action before Iran produces nuclear weapons." He stated this in an interview with the Washington Post, with the article published on Sunday, December 25. Despite President Joe Biden's support for diplomacy, Donald Trump, the elected President of the United States, has said regarding the possibility of war with Iran that "anything is possible."