Iranian Officials Sound Alarm Over “Psychological War” Amid Fears of Collapsing Morale Among Forces
FILE PHOTO: Sparse attendance of regime supporters at a Friday prayer sermon in Tehran, Iran
Written by
Amir Taghati
Iran’s leadership has ramped up warnings about what it calls a “psychological war” waged by its adversaries, as fears mount over eroding morale among its forces following strategic setbacks, particularly the regime change in Syria. Top officials, including the regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, are urging vigilance against enemy propaganda, which they claim is designed to sap confidence and foster internal defeatism.
On January 9, IRGC commander-in-chief Hossein Salami highlighted the role of psychological operations in modern warfare. “The enemy has set out to defeat us with words and sounds,” Salami said during a televised military drill in Kermanshah. “They aim to drain hearts of confidence, push minds into doubt, and create false fears. Yet, we are stronger than ever before.” He called for heightened awareness among both the public and armed forces, emphasizing the importance of resisting what he described as an assault on “hearts and minds.”
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed these sentiments, pointing to Syria’s collapse as a cautionary tale. “The strike against Syria’s army was a psychological one, driven by narratives and media manipulations,” Araghchi warned on January 7, stressing that preserving morale is vital to countering similar tactics in Iran. He linked this issue directly to recent warnings by Khamenei, who has repeatedly urged the regime’s supporters to remain hopeful and not allow enemy propaganda to undermine their resolve.
#Khamenei Targets U.S. in Speech to Mask #Iranian Regime’s Strategic Weaknesshttps://t.co/so3c1hhMdx
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 8, 2025
Khamenei, addressing his forces for the fifth time since the fall of Syria, called for breaking the “illusion of enemy strength.” He asserted, “We must fortify ourselves, our thoughts, and public opinion against enemy propaganda. They aim to hollow out confidence and portray us as weak, and themselves as strong. The enemy wants to strip away our invulnerability, making us believe we are defenseless while they threaten to destroy us.”
Despite these efforts, officials have tacitly acknowledged the devastating impact of losing Syria, which regime insiders had referred to as Iran’s “35th province” and even “more important than Khuzestan.”
Heshmatollah Qanbari, head of the Coordination Council for Propaganda, issued a warning during remarks broadcast on state television in Kermanshah on January 4, emphasizing the importance of countering the enemy’s media strategies. He stated: “Instability is harmful and dangerous for society. We must be cautious. No one, wherever they are, should allow a situation to arise where words put pressure on the country’s decision-making bodies.”
“Words that reflect despair and hopelessness should not come from the mouth of any official. The impact of such words is more dangerous than the bombs the Americans and Zionists dropped in Lebanon and Gaza,” Qanbari warned.
Observers note that the regime’s repeated efforts to rally its forces reflect a deeper crisis within. The IRGC’s failure and refusal to fight in Syria played a decisive role in the regime’s strategic defeat, leaving Iran’s leadership scrambling to prevent further demoralization. The clerical regime knows that a battle is first lost in the mind, then on the battlefield. Their survival now hinges on shoring up the crumbling morale of their forces, as any further degradation could hasten the collapse of Khamenei’s rule.