Cognitive Research in Political Studies

Cognitive Research in Political Studies

The Geopolitics of Cyber ​​War and the Security Strategies of the Zionist Regime and the Islamic Republic of Iran: Analysis of Cyber ​​Confrontation and Deterrence (2010-2025)

Document Type : Original Article

Author
assistanceAssistant Professor of International Relations, Department of Political Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Abstract
Cyberspace, as the main platform for information exchange and circulation, has been called the “fifth battlefield” after sea, land, air, and space. Some experts believe that war in cyberspace can progress to the point where, in the shortest possible time, the control systems of a country or even several countries will be completely out of the hands of their governments. In such circumstances, the modern world will stop moving and dynamism within a few seconds, and a catastrophe much more disastrous than a nuclear war will occur. By studying the developments in the security-defense doctrine of Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran, this article seeks to understand the framework of cyber capabilities in shaping its new deterrence strategy in confronting internal and external threats. Hence, the research question is posed as follows: How has the geopolitics of cyber warfare in West Asia affected the security strategies of the Zionist regime towards the Islamic Republic of Iran, and conversely, what role can be identified for Iran in cyber confrontation and deterrence against this regime? Accordingly, the research hypothesis is that the Zionist regime, considering the geopolitical constraints and security threats resulting from Iran's rise to power, has used cyber warfare as one of the main tools to contain Iran's security; however, in contrast, the Islamic Republic of Iran, by developing its indigenous capacities and utilizing its cyber deterrence capabilities, has been able to neutralize some of these pressures and become an active player in redefining the cyber and security balance of West Asia. The present research is based on a qualitative method with a descriptive-analytical approach that is implemented through data collection in the form of documents and libraries.
Keywords

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Volume 2, Issue 4 - Serial Number 7
Winter Quarterly
Winter 2026
Pages 55-75

  • Receive Date 26 August 2025
  • Revise Date 04 October 2025
  • Accept Date 05 October 2025