Iranian Defence Council

The Defence Council (SNSC; Persian: شورای دفاع, romanized: Showrā-ye Āliye-ye Defāʿ; also known as the Defence Council for War and Defence Affairs) is the defence council of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The BBC reported that the IRNA announced that Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Iranian Defence Council, had been killed in US and Israel strikes on Iran. His death left the position vacant. The secretary is appointed by the President of Iran; the most recent appointment was made by President Masoud Pezeshkian. Two members of the council, Ali Shamkhani and Ali Akbar Ahmadian, were appointed by the Supreme Leader on 7 August 2025.

The council was established to safeguard and support the Islamic Revolution and Iran's territorial integrity against war-related and defence-oriented threats. It was formally founded on 3 August 2025 following confirmation by the Supreme Leader and the President of Iran.

The responsibilities of the council are defined by the Constitution of Iran as follows:

1. Determining defence and national security policies within the framework of the general policies set by the Supreme Leader.
2. Coordinating political, intelligence, social, cultural, and economic activities related to defence and national security policies.
3. Mobilising the country's material and intellectual resources to address internal and external threats.

The Iranian Defence Council is a defence and military body established following the Iran–Israel War of 2025. It functions as a sub-council of the Supreme National Security Council. The council was created in response to the outbreak of hostilities and the damage sustained by defence and nuclear facilities, with the stated aim of centralising and strengthening defence-related projects.