Despite the international restrictions imposed on it over the years, Iran has made significant progress in specific scientific fields, including nanotechnology. Since 2000, Tehran has been excelling in this field, as data from the “Web of Science” network shows that Iran ranks fourth globally in nanotechnology, with 8791 scientific articles published.
However, this scientific progress is met with technological lag in some sectors, prompting Iran to enhance its efforts in the field of artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence has become a top government priority, and according to the Middle East Institute of Political and Economic Studies, Iran has launched a comprehensive national strategic document to develop this field.
In July 2024, Tehran inaugurated the National Organization for Artificial Intelligence, aiming to make Iran one of the top ten countries using artificial intelligence in governance and digital economy by 2034. The national document emphasizes the need to transform Iran into a smart state, stressing that digitization alone is not enough, but the full capabilities of artificial intelligence must be utilized to achieve this goal.
This initiative marks a new starting point towards digital transformation, with interim Iranian President Mohammad Makber attending the opening ceremonies and being tasked with the initial operation of the organization under the presidency. The document states the necessity for ministries and government agencies to establish the technical and legal frameworks to guide and simplify the adoption of artificial intelligence, and enhance cooperation with like-minded nations in thinking.
Despite advanced scientific capabilities, Iran faces challenges in its industrial and military sectors, putting it at a disadvantage against its more advanced rivals in this field, such as Israel. The latter benefits from artificial intelligence technology in various areas, including defense and security.
However, Iran is not limited to weaknesses, as it has been working on developing its cyber capabilities over the years. Iranian cyber activities reflect a hybrid strategy combining traditional military strength and electronic warfare, enabling them to carry out espionage and targeted attacks.
Artificial intelligence technology has begun to play an increasing role in Iran’s cyber operations. Reports indicate that Iranian-linked hacker groups have started leveraging artificial intelligence to develop complex systems that enhance their cyber attack capabilities.
It is worth noting that the death of General Qasem Soleimani marked a turning point in Iranian cyber methodology, as Tehran increased its activities towards the United States and its allies, leveraging technological developments to strengthen its capabilities in cyberspace.
As Iran continues to invest in artificial intelligence in cyber operations, concerns grow about its impact on regional stability and global security, raising questions about the future amid rapid technological advancements.
