Strategic Lessons Learned by Managers of the Information Society in the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran from 1978 to 2021

To confront security threats and challenges, utilizing the managerial experience, knowledge, and strategic lessons learned from senior officials of the armed forces and the country's intelligence community is an essential necessity for information awareness and control. On the other hand, improving the current situation and reaching a desirable state depends on documenting the valuable experiences of veteran intelligence and security personnel, and establishing stability, tranquility, and sustainable security is possible through strategic lessons learned. Identifying influential factors in information and security management by benefiting from the experiences and lessons learned of senior managers, considering the current conditions and an optimized view of the future, is an important and vital factor in the development and impact of organizational and management structures on intelligence missions for sustainable security. This article aims to document and compile the strategic lessons learned by the managers of the intelligence community of the Islamic Republic of Iran's armed forces in countering threats, development, and sustainable security in the country in the years following the victory of the Islamic Revolution up to the end of 2021. The collection of findings was carried out through studies of the system's upstream documents and library research using index card tools and field studies.Through interviews and open questionnaires with 42 senior intelligence-security managers and commanders involved in intelligence-security and information protection in the organizations of the Army, IRGC, and Law Enforcement, the study was conducted using content analysis and conclusions were drawn. The research findings indicate strategic lessons in the areas of structure and organization, the necessity of transformation in the armed forces' intelligence community, and the development and clarification of a comprehensive intelligence-security system. These lessons emphasize the necessity and precision of functions, intelligence awareness in confronting threats, vigilance against intelligence lapses, optimal and timely use of opportunities, turning threats into opportunities, and ultimately achieving sustainable development and security.