Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research

  1. Home
  2. Wiki
Not to be confused with Self Powered Neutron Detector (SPND).

Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research of Iran
(S. P. N. D.)
سازمان پژوهش و نوآوری دفاعی (سپند)
AbbreviationS. P. N. D.
NicknameSEPAND[5]
Pronunciation
  • Sazman-e Pazhouheshhaye Novin-e Defa’i
Established2011[3]
FounderMohsen Fakhrizadeh[6]
Founded atMalek-Ashtar University of Technology[7]
TypeGovernmental Organization[1]
Legal statusActive foundation
PurposeExtend defensive sciences and technologies of Islamic Republic of Iran[8]
Professional title
Sepand
سپند
HeadquartersNobonyad neighborhood, Tehran, Iran[4]
Location
Coordinates35°46′52″N 51°29′35″E / 35.78108°N 51.49309°E / 35.78108; 51.49309
Services
  • Nuclear radiopharmaceutical production
  • Carrier military drones production
  • Ballistic and cruise missiles engineerings
  • Production of nuclear submarines
  • Development of heavy explosive devices
  • ...
  • etc.[10]
Official language
Persian
OwnerGovernment of Islamic Republic of Iran
Head
Brigadier general Pasdar Reza Mozaffari Nia[2]
Key people
Publication
Interdisciplinary Studies on Strategic Knowledge[11]
Parent organization
SubsidiariesShahid Karimi Group[12]

The Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research or S.P.N.D. (Persian: سازمان پژوهش‌های نوین دفاعی, romanized: Sazman-e Pazhouheshhaye Novin-e Defa’i and abbreviated سازمان سپند) is a research and development agency of Iran's Ministry of Defence responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.[13][14][15] According to Iranian media, it is the Iranian counterpart of the American DARPA.[14]

History

[edit]

According to the US, it was established in 2011.[16] The organization was reportedly established and led by Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, until his assassination outside Tehran on November 26, 2020.[14][17][18]

After Israel's 12-day war with Iran in June 2025 and the assassination of senior Iranian military and scientific officials by Israel, Brigadier general Pasdar "Reza Mozaffari Nia" was appointed as the new head of the organization.[2]

Sanction

[edit]

According to the Israeli officials, later backed up by American intelligence officials, it was tasked with the research and development of nuclear weapons,[19] and took over some of the activities of the Iranian nuclear weapon development AMAD Project.[16] It has been sanctioned by the United States Department of State and United States Department of the Treasury.[20][21]

According to Al Jazeera, amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran, it developed Iran's first COVID-19 testing kits[14] and also FAKHRAVAC, a COVID-19 vaccine that reached clinical trials.[22]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "تشکیل سازمان «سپند» در جهت دستیابی به فناوری های برتر دفاعی" [Formation of the "Sepand" organization to achieve superior defense technologies] (in Persian). Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b "۳۸ فرمانده ارشد که در جنگ ۱۲ روزه با اسرائیل به شهادت رسیدند" [38 senior commanders who were martyred in the 12-day war with Israel] (in Persian). Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  3. ^ "کلیات طرح تشکیل سازمان «سپند» وزارت دفاع تصویب شد" [The outline of the plan to establish the Ministry of Defense's "Sepand" organization was approved] (in Persian). Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  4. ^ "پژوهشکده نوین دفاعی محله حسین آباد تهران" [Modern Defense Research Institute, Hossein Abad neighborhood, Tehran] (in Persian). Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  5. ^ "کلیات «طرح تقویتِ تحقیق و نوآوری دفاعی» تصویب شد" [The general outline of the "Defense Research and Innovation Strengthening Plan" was approved] (in Persian). Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  6. ^ "قانون تشکیل سازمان پژوهش و نوآوری دفاعی (سپند)" [Law on the Establishment of the Defense Research and Innovation Organization (SEPAND)] (in Persian). Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  7. ^ "سازمان پژوهش و نوآوری‌های دفاعی تشکیل می‌شود" [Defense Research and Innovation Organization is formed] (in Persian). Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  8. ^ "آخرین عملکرد سازمان پژوهش و نوآوری دفاعی (سپند) در کمیسیون آموزش بررسی می‌شود" [The latest performance of the Defense Research and Innovation Organization (Sepand) is being reviewed by the Education Commission] (in Persian). Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  9. ^ "موافقان و مخالفان تشکیل سازمان نوآوری دفاعی چه گفتند" [What did those in favor and against forming the Defense Innovation Organization say] (in Persian). Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  10. ^ "سعید برجی مردی در سایه برای انفجارهای هسته‌ای" [Saeed Borji, a man in the shadows for nuclear explosions] (in Persian). Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Interdisciplinary Studies on Strategic Knowledge" [مطالعات میان‌رشته‌ای در دانش استراتژیک]. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  12. ^ "خانواده‌هایی که در راه توسعه علمی ایران آسمانی شدند" [Families that became prominent in Iran's scientific development] (in Persian). Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  13. ^ Gambrell, Jon (27 November 2020). "Iran scientist linked to military nuclear program killed". ABC News. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  14. ^ a b c d دانشمندی پرافتخار اما گمنام که اشبه‌الناس به شهید چمران و طهرانی مقدم بود/ رییس اولین DARPA جهان اسلام عاشق فلسفه و حافظ +عکس. مشرق نیوز (in Persian). 30 November 2020. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research". Iran Watch. Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control. 22 August 2019. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Additional Sanctions Imposed by the Department of State Targeting Iranian Proliferators". U.S. Department of State (Press release). 29 August 2014. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  17. ^ شهید فخری زاده را بیشتر بشناسید. Fars News Agency (in Persian). 28 November 2020. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  18. ^ Bulos, Nabih; Tarnopolsky, Noga (27 November 2020). "Iranian nuclear scientist gunned down, news agency reports". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  19. ^ "Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, head of Iran nuclear program, assassinated". The Jerusalem Post. Reuters. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  20. ^ Wroughton, Lesley; Brunnstrom, David (22 March 2019). "U.S. sanctions Iran's nuclear research unit, urges Tehran to negotiate". Reuters. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  21. ^ "U.S. Government Sanctions Organizations and Individuals in Connection with an Iranian Defense Entity Linked to Iran's Previous Nuclear Weapons Effort". U.S. Department of the Treasury (Press release). 22 March 2019. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  22. ^ Motamedi, Maziar (16 March 2021). "Iran starts human trials of its third domestic COVID vaccine". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
[edit]
Stub icon

This article about government in Iran is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.