Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research

Not to be confused with Self Powered Neutron Detector (SPND).

The Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research or S.P.N.D. (Persian: سازمان پژوهش‌های نوین دفاعی, romanized: Sazman-e Pazhouheshhaye Novin-e Defa’i and abbreviated سازمان سپند) is a research and development agency of Iran's Ministry of Defence responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.^[13][14][15] According to Iranian media, it is the Iranian counterpart of the American DARPA.^[14]

Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research of Iran
(S. P. N. D.)

سازمان پژوهش و نوآوری دفاعی (سپند)
Abbreviation	S. P. N. D.
Nickname	SEPAND[1]
Pronunciation	Sazman-e Pazhouheshhaye Novin-e Defa’i
Established	2011[2]
Founder	Mohsen Fakhrizadeh[3]
Founded at	Malek-Ashtar University of Technology[4]
Type	Governmental Organization[5]
Legal status	Active foundation
Purpose	Extend defensive sciences and technologies of Islamic Republic of Iran[6]
Professional title	Sepand سپند
Headquarters	Nobonyad neighborhood, Tehran, Iran[7]
Location	Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Zahedan, Ahvaz, Islamic Republic of Iran[8]
Coordinates	35.78108°N 51.49309°E / 35.78108; 51.49309
Services	Nuclear radiopharmaceutical production Carrier military drones production Ballistic and cruise missiles engineerings Production of nuclear submarines Development of heavy explosive devices ... etc.[9]
Official language	Persian
Owner	Government of Islamic Republic of Iran
Head	Brigadier general Pasdar Reza Mozaffari Nia[10]
Key people	Mohsen Fakhrizadeh Akbar Motalebizadeh Saeed Borji
Publication	Interdisciplinary Studies on Strategic Knowledge[11]
Parent organization	Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics of Iran Malek-Ashtar University of Technology
Subsidiaries	Shahid Karimi Group[12]

History

According to the US, it was established in 2011.^[16] The organization was reportedly established and led by Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, until his assassination outside Tehran on November 26, 2020.^[14][17][18]

After Israel's 12-day war with Iran in June 2025 and the assassination of senior Iranian military and scientific officials by Israel, Brigadier general Pasdar "Reza Mozaffari Nia" was appointed as the new head of the organization.^[10]

Sanction

According to the Israeli officials, later backed up by American intelligence officials, it was tasked with the research and development of nuclear weapons,^[19] and took over some of the activities of the Iranian nuclear weapon development AMAD Project.^[16] It has been sanctioned by the United States Department of State and United States Department of the Treasury.^[20][21]

According to Al Jazeera, amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran, it developed Iran's first COVID-19 testing kits^[14] and also FAKHRAVAC, a COVID-19 vaccine that reached clinical trials.^[22]

See also

• Aerospace Industries Organization
• Iran Airports Company
• Iran Electronics Industries
• Iran Insurance Company
• Iranian Central Oil Fields Company
• Iranian Offshore Oil Company
• Marine Industries Organization
• Atmospheric Science and Meteorological Research Center
• Atomic Energy Organization of Iran
• Emergency Medical Services Organization of Iran
• Iranian Defence Council
• Iranian Space Agency
• National Organization for Passive Defense
• Assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists
• Targeted killings by Israel
• Supreme National Security Council