Iran’s preparations for the renewed warfare it expects from the U.S. and Israel continue without let-up. Imagery has appeared on Iranian Telegram channels showing contrails in the sky, believed to be evidence of ballistic missile and air force exercises. Senior officials have stressed the importance of military readiness and are taking steps to ensure that Iranian forces will be able to respond, regardless of the intensity of U.S.-Israeli strikes.

Iran’s Army Ground Forces commander, Brig. Gen. Ali Jahanshahi, has ordered military unit commanders to maintain the highest level of combat readiness, warning that negligence during wartime could have serious consequences, Anadolu Agency reported Friday, citing Tasnim.

At the same time, Iranian officials have reportedly ordered the military to activate a fully decentralized “mosaic defense” doctrine amid growing concerns about a potential joint strike by the U.S. and Israel, according to a report posted on Iranian social media on Oct. 22. The “mosaic defense” doctrine is intended to allow Iran to continue fighting even if its central leadership is eliminated.

“Under this structure, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reportedly been organized into 31 regional commands, each with a high degree of autonomy, including its own weapons, supplies, and decision-making authority,” the report says. “This structure is intended to allow regional commanders to continue military operations without waiting for direct orders from Tehran.”