Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, Head of the Iqbal Think Tank, in an interview with Pakistan’s analytical digital media platform “Federal Post,” discussed the strategic mistakes and foreign policy challenges of Iran over the past four decades.

Miscalculations in air defense

Bagheri stated that Iran has made a strategic error in recent years:

• One-sided focus: Most of the military budget and capability were devoted to developing ballistic missiles and drones.
• Air defense weakness: It was assumed that wars would remain “proxy-based,” so air defense was not sufficiently strengthened to counter direct attacks from the United States and Israel.
• Heavy aerial losses: According to him, in the past nine days around 90 drones and several aircraft (including four American planes) have been shot down, yet Iran’s airspace remains vulnerable.

Pakistan; the only real ally in difficult times

• Shift in strategic perception: The head of the Iqbal Think Tank emphasized that both public opinion and governing circles in Iran have reached the conclusion that among all neighbors, Pakistan is the only country whose people are willing to make sacrifices in support of Iran.
• He urged Iranian officials to reconsider their foreign policy and shift priority from India toward Pakistan.

Anger over India’s dual approach

• Warship incident: Regarding the sinking of an Iranian ship returning from a naval exercise in India, investigations are ongoing into India’s possible role or failure to rescue 82 young Iranian sailors.
• Bagheri stated that Modi’s visit to Israel during the peak of the Gaza crisis, along with New Delhi’s growing closeness to Tel Aviv, has created a wave of distrust and resentment toward India within Iranian public and political circles.

Conclusion

Iran must redefine its security and diplomatic doctrine based on the new realities of war—where partners of peaceful times (India) are replaced by allies of difficult times (Pakistan).