Interview with Defense Attaché of Iran, Colonel Mohammad Mahdi Hajian

Iran, with a historical legacy and a civilization spanning over 7,000 years, was known as Persia until 1935, and since then has been called “Iran” (which literally means “land of the Aryans” – in the ethnic sense of the term). In 1979, with the Islamic Revolution led by Ayatollah Imam Khomeini, the country adopted its current official designation as the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Colonel Mohammad Mahdi Hajian has been the Iranian Defense Attaché in Brazil since 2024. His mission in the country includes increasing cooperation between the two countries. The strong presence of Iranian military companies at Expo LAAD 2025, with one of the largest booths at the Defense and Security expo held in April 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, showed that this cooperation is growing.

The recent war in the Middle East began after Iran was attacked by the United States and Israel, and the country’s strong resistance through defined strategies and weapons with advanced technologies showed the world that Iran is a military power that cannot be underestimated.

On April 30, THE GUIDE was kindly received at the Iranian Embassy by Colonel Hajian, who granted us an interview talking about his country, his culture, his people, the war situation, and the relations with Brazil. See the interview below.

1) THE GUIDE: How long have you been in Brazil as a Defense Attaché?
Colonel Hajian: It is about one and a half year.

2) THE GUIDE: What is your rank?
Colonel Hajian: I am Colonel

3) THE GUIDE: Had you been to South America before?
Colonel Hajian: I have been to Europe and Asia before but this is my first time in South America.

4) THE GUIDE: Did you bring your family?
Colonel Hajian: Yes, I did. They are living with me since the beginning of my mission.

5) THE GUIDE: Have you been to other Brazilian cities? Which ones?
Colonel Hajian: Yes I have. Despite the fact that I have been heavily busy during my mission especially these days, I have found the opportunity to visit several beautiful Brazilian cities including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Belem.

6) THE GUIDE: How long do Defense Attachés stay in Brazil?
Colonel Hajian: It is basically 3 years but it may extend to 4 years.

7) THE GUIDE: Are there Iranian Defense Attachés in other South American countries?
Colonel Hajian: Yes, there are others in some of the Brazilian neighboring countries.

QUESTIONS ABOUT DEFENSE

Talking about war is always sad, and THE GUIDE regrets the deaths of military personnel and civilians in Iran, as well as in other countries involved in the current conflict.

8) THE GUIDE: Iran has impressed the world with its strong resistance to attacks from the United States and Israel. Did you have a strategic plan to become a military power?
Colonel Hajian: Living in ear that unfortunately there are threats against sovereign countries, the nations, their independence and their legitimate interests we have had no other nation. Since our Islamic Revolution that can be considered as the watershed toward our real independence in the contemporary ear of our long-lasting history we have planned to be militarily so capable to deter any enemy whether if it would be the strongest military power of the world. But there is one important issue to maintain here, that the Iranian nation have proven in their history especially since recent 200 years that any capability whether military, technology, nuclear, etc. is not and won’t be against any nation and despite they’ve been subject to aggression several times, never been aggressive starting a war.

9) THE GUIDE: What is the size of the Iranian military forces?
Colonel Hajian: Iran military is a conventional-size including four forces of air-defense, air force, navy and army plus some special drone and missile units.

10) THE GUIDE: Iran has demonstrated the capacity to create military technologies and produce drones on a large scale, even under enemy attack. Are there any military-focused technology institutes in Iran?
Colonel Hajian: A large variety of technological institutes and industries are wide within our country working with our defense industry and most of our capability is indigenous developed by Iranian engineers and scientists, although we have constructive cooperation with many countries around the world especially non-committed and non-westerns to exchange knowledge and expertise.

11) THE GUIDE: Last year (2025), Iran had a huge booth at LAAD in Rio de Janeiro, the largest defense industry event held in South America. That booth displayed weapons used in the current war against Israel and the US. Was this the first time you participated in a military fair in Latin America? Will you be present again at LAAD 2027?
Colonel Hajian: No, it was not the first time we participated in LAAD, but it was after a significant time-gap. We had a very successful participation on the benefit of both Iranian and Brazilian sides. LAAD is an important event regarding defense industry world-wide. Iran and Brazil are sovereign states deciding on their own interests, that our participation in LAAD 2025 showed it clearly. We have good capabilities that we are willing to expose and offer for cooperation for any friendly cooperation opportunity, so we plan to participate in LAAD in future more extensively and more seriously.

12) THE GUIDE was present at LAAD Security, which took place this April in São Paulo, SP. Did Iran send representatives to visit the event?
Colonel Hajian: We had planned to but unfortunately the natural priorities of ongoing war didn’t let us to. There was another reason also that the LAAD 2026 more being concentrated on security than defense, but any way we will surely do in next years.

13) THE GUIDE: Has Iran increased its participation in military fairs around the world? What are the main fairs your country has attended in the last two years?
Colonel Hajian: Naturally during the year, we have bunch of invitations from the defense expos around the world. My colleague in Defense Industry sections are really busy in this regard and they have a busy calendar.

QUESTIONS REGARDING BRAZIL

14) THE GUIDE: How are relations with Brazil in the area of Defense? Colonel Hajian: Both countries exchange Defense attaches regularly for many years, official diplomatic ties of the countries back to 120 years ago. The trade balance between Iran and Brazil is estimated to reach even 10 B dollars this year. Both countries defense industries have strongholds to share on mutual benefits. Brazil has got many advantages and Iran has developed efficient capabilities even more being proven in this war that even difficult for the strongest military in the world to cope with, so it shows that we have plenty to do to increase the present conditions to an upgraded fruitful level of cooperation.

15) THE GUIDE: Have you visited any Brazilian military bases or defense companies? Which ones?
Colonel Hajian: Yes, naturally it is an important part of my duty here. We have been in close conversations with some of successful companies. There are real intentions on both sides to develop effective cooperative ties you will be able to hearing of more in the future.

16) THE GUIDE: And regarding defense products and services in Brazil, in what areas has your country shown interest?
Colonel Hajian: As I told you in previous questions the variety of Brazilian defense industry capabilities and expertise are of such a good variety and quality that I am not able to refer to them all, but to summarize well I would say that there is a big opportunity of cooperation for both sides being perceived by both parties and will result in more cooperation soon.

17) THE GUIDE: The Tucano aircraft has had good sales abroad; does Iran produce any similar aircraft?
Colonel Hajian: Yes, we are working on some projects aiming on two goals, improving our present assets to make them more capable for the complicated battlefield of today and also developing indigenous capabilities. We also welcome any constructive approach for cooperation in the aviation and space field that can yield to collective useful achievements.

18) THE GUIDE: Has Brazil purchased defense products and services produced by Iran?
Colonel Hajian: As I told you Brazil and Iran as independent countries trying to diversify partners for better, more effective, more reasonable solutions and working within international mechanisms such as BRICS, and having a significant level of trade, have many to offer to each other.

19) THE GUIDE: Has there been an exchange of delegations between the two countries since you came to Brazil?
Colonel Hajian: Yes, it is usually done through diplomatic ties and coordination. On the sideline of international meetings and events, we had high delegation in LAAD 2025 and sideline very constructive meetings with high-ranking honorable Brazilian military and political authorities.

20) THE GUIDE: Have the highest military authorities of both countries maintained significant relations? Are there any planned visits by delegations from both countries this year?
Colonel Hajian: Yes, there are due to the conditions, including message exchange, telephone calls, video conferences, so on and so for. There have been visits also recently especially in the defense technology fields and it is planned to be maintained and improved as much as possible in near future.

FINAL QUESTIONS

21) THE GUIDE: Iran is an ancient country with its own cultural traits. Are there any cultural similarities between Iran and Brazil?
Colonel Hajian: Sure, there are. Brazil is a loved country in Iran especially regarding football. There is a famous city in Iran named ‘Abadan’ that we recognize it as a small Brazil within the country and there is this famous expression in Persian, transliterated: “Abadan Brezilete” which means “Abadan is a small Brazil”. They like Brazil very much there. The city’s football team uniform is very much similar to Brazil National Football Team uniform, yellow blouse and dark blue shorts. The Iranians are warm-blooded and welcoming likewise the Brazilians. Our old and rich Persian culture have made us a resistant but very friendly nation and it can be certified by people who have visited ancient Iran even once, I am familiar and friend to at least the three previous Brazilian Defense Attaches in Iran who I met recently in our National event and they had agreement on this. Summed up, both our nations have many commonalities in terms of humane traits.

22) THE GUIDE: Does Iran have any national celebrations like the Brazilian Carnival? What national holidays take place there?
Colonel Hajian: We also have many traditions that may be not identical to the beautiful Brazilian ones but are really marvelous and exciting especially some like Nowrouz (Persian new-year celebrations) have historical roots of more than two and half millennia, they cannot have explained verbally. I invite you to visit Iran and see and feel them in person, I bet you won’t regret.

23) THE GUIDE: What do you and your family think of life in Brazil?
Colonel Hajian: One of the loveliest countries of the world indeed, both in terms of beautiful nature and friendly warm-blooded people.

24) THE GUIDE: To conclude, what message would you like to convey to the Brazilian people?
Colonel Hajian: As a defense professional getting acquainted to Brazilian great capacities and some need and as an Iranian knowing my countries capacities and requirement I strongly recommend the defense ties especially in the fields of technological cooperation, exchange of expertise and industrial cooperation for both sides that is very clearly on the real benefits of both proud nations of Brazil and Iran and as the representative of the Iranian armed forces I emphasize on the firm positive will of our side.

PLEASE ACCEPT MY BEST WISHES FOR THE GREAT NATION AND COUNTRY OF BRAZIL!