Iran claims to have integrated AI technology into weapons: Technological breakthrough or hype?

The ongoing armed conflict between Iran and Israel has once again put Tehran's military capabilities in the spotlight.

For many international observers, the biggest concern remains Iran's nuclear ambitions, the core factor that makes Israel see the country as an existential threat, especially when Iranian leaders have repeatedly publicly called for the annihilation of the Jewish State.

Not surprisingly, much of the current discussion focuses on the prospect of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and the potential consequences of that.

Yet amid the nuclear concerns, another important development has received little attention: Iran's increasingly bold claims about integrating AI into modern weapons systems.

According to the US Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO), the first signs that Iran was pursuing this goal appeared as early as August 2024.

Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, Navy Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), asserted that AI technology has been integrated into more than 2,600 new military systems, including drones, missile launchers and naval vehicles.

Notably, in January 2025, Iran announced that it had successfully tested an AI-integrated missile as part of a large-scale naval exercise in the Persian Gulf.

The country's state media stressed that AI will help improve the accuracy, targeting capabilities and combat effectiveness of advanced weapons.

This information shows that, in addition to nuclear ambitions, Iran is also pursuing a technology-based military revolution, with AI as a strategic spearhead that the West cannot ignore.

From nuclear to AI: Iran's technological ambitions beyond imagination

If Iran's ambition to possess nuclear weapons has long worried the West, another silent threat is gradually emerging: its ambition to become an AI powerhouse.

A recent report by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) titled “Iran's dangerous attempt to become a superpowerWHO"(Iran's Dangerous Push to Become an AI Superpower) outlined Tehran's long-term strategy of integrating AI into every key area, from nuclear infrastructure, surveillance systems to cyber operations.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly stated that AI is a “national strategic priority” and that Iran must be among the top 10 countries in AI.

These statements, in the current geopolitical context, are not just ambitious statements but also raise deep concerns about the prospect of AI being used to reinforce domestic apparatuses of control, military intervention and repression.

However, Iran's AI dream faces major hurdles, from the economic crisis and brain drain to a severe shortage of technological infrastructure such as semiconductor manufacturing and high-performance computing systems.

To compensate, Tehran is said to be relying on flexible strategies such as leveraging open-source software, technological cooperation with Russia and China, and even engaging in illicit technology networks.

However, there is still much doubt surrounding Iran’s claims of integrating AI into its weapons systems. So far, there is no clear evidence that Iran’s alleged “AI-ized” weapons offer the superior performance or high accuracy that they claim.

This begs the question, are the claims about AI in defense just part of Tehran's propaganda strategy to showcase its technological prowess in the information war?

'AI Attack'Iran: Technological breakthrough or hype?

After Israel launched preemptive airstrikes against Iran's nuclear facilities, Tehran responded with a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting Israeli territory.

On social media, many videos have been circulating showing that some Iranian missiles have penetrated Israel's famously effective air defense system, including the "Iron Dome".

In addition, Israel also operates other layers of defense such as David's Sling, Arrow-3 and THAAD - systems designed to form a multi-layered air defense network, against threats from ballistic missiles to drones.

However, despite the attention-grabbing images online, Israeli defense officials said the performance of the air defense system remained within acceptable limits, with a success rate of interception ranging from 80 to 90 percent.

They stressed that the “misses” were predictable, and that most of the Iranian missiles were effectively intercepted. Meanwhile, an independent review by Reuters found that many of the viral videos purportedly showing the successful attacks on Iran in June were actually recycled footage from previous strikes, particularly during the October 2024 retaliation wave.

It is worth noting that there is no evidence that Iran's supposedly AI-integrated missiles have demonstrated superior performance compared to previous conventional weapons.

While Tehran may be investing heavily in AI technology in the defense sector, the 2025 attack did not show any significant tactical or technical breakthroughs.

In that context, Iran's claims of AI-led warfare capabilities appear to be more propaganda than a sign of a real military technological revolution.