Four decades of ...
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In his view, each institution had a distinct constitutional mission. The Army's primary responsibility was defending Iran's borders, while the IRGC was tasked with safeguarding the achievements of the Islamic Revolution—a mission that could extend to Tehran, border regions, or beyond Iran's frontiers.
Accordingly, the deployment of the Army abroad would generally be viewed as "military intervention," whereas overseas IRGC operations could fall within the framework of "protecting the achievements of the Revolution."
He also established a clear division of labor between the naval branches of the two forces. Responsibility for the Persian Gulf was assigned to the IRGC Navy, while the Gulf of Oman, the Indian Ocean, and the Caspian Sea were entrusted to the Army Navy, preventing operational overlap.
Backing missile program
Among his most significant strategic decisions was his unwavering support for Iran's missile program.
In 1985 and 1986, Martyr Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, regarded as the father of Iran's missile program, proposed dismantling missiles purchased from Libya and Syria to gain access to their underlying technology. Ayatollah Khamenei welcomed and supported the initiative.
In the early 1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, newly independent states were prepared to sell advanced missile systems to Iran. While many officials enthusiastically supported the purchases, Martyr Khamenei stood alone in firmly opposing the idea.
Instead, he issued a clear directive: "Go and build them yourselves." He even prohibited further discussion of purchasing foreign missiles.
His insistence on self-sufficiency and indigenous development ultimately laid the foundation for Iran's advanced missile capabilities.
He also repeatedly stressed the importance of missile accuracy, particularly precision-strike capability. The rationale behind that emphasis became evident during operations against the Daesh in Syria. In some instances, American military bases were located only two or three kilometers from Daesh positions, while civilian populations were present on the opposite side. The high precision of Iranian missiles allowed the operations to be carried out without creating unnecessary complications or causing harm to civilians.
Ayatollah Khamenei correctly recognized that Iran would never possess air power and air-defense capabilities on the same scale as the United States and the Israeli regime. Consequently, deterrence had to be built through missile capabilities and carefully calibrated military strategy.
For that reason, he consistently opposed including Iran's missile program in negotiations, arguing that diplomacy without power carries little weight. Without credible defensive and missile capabilities, he believed, the opposing side would regard Iran as a "cash cow" and seek to exploit the country's God-given resources for its own benefit.
Lessons from 12-day, 40-day wars
During the 12-day war, he concluded that US military bases across the region—particularly radar installations—should be targeted. That assessment was later put into practice during the 40-day war.
Through close battlefield management, he also instructed commanders at every level to designate successors in advance to ensure continuity of command under all circumstances.
Possessing a comprehensive command of military affairs, Martyr Khamenei examined lengthy reports line by line and assessed every detail with meticulous care. His broad strategic outlook enabled Iran to maintain a military balance with the United States throughout the regional conflict.
Convinced that dependence on foreign suppliers would inevitably constrain Iran's strategic freedom, he consistently emphasized self-reliance in developing indigenous fighter aircraft, including the Azarakhsh, as well as hypersonic missile technology.
Overall, Martyr Khamenei was a cleric with exceptional military brilliance—a quality that was also recognized by Martyr Major General Mohammad-Vali Qarani, the Army's chief of staff and one of Iran's most distinguished military commanders. Qarani remarked that had he pursued a career in the armed forces, he would have risen to one of the highest military ranks—an assessment that underscored the depth of his military aptitude.