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Transformation of Crisis Governance in Iran: Structural Reforms in the 2004 Regulations
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Akram Baniasadi   , Seyedeh Samaneh Miresmaeeli , Jalil Arabkheradmand |
| in Disaster and Emergency Health, Defense Health Research Center, Tehran, Iran |
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Abstract: (14 Views) |
Background: The Bam earthquake of December 26, 2003 (5 Dey 1382) represented a watershed moment in Iran’s crisis management history, exposing deep-seated structural deficiencies, institutional fragmentation, and the absence of a unified command system. In response, the Cabinet enacted the Crisis Management Headquarters Regulation in June 2004. Following subsequent critiques and the Supreme Leader’s insistence on integrating the Armed Forces and incorporating a prevention-oriented component, a revised version—renamed the Headquarters for Prevention and Crisis Management—was approved in July of the same year.
Methods: Employing a directed content analysis and a comparative approach, this study examines three official documents—two regulatory texts and the Supreme Leader’s recommendations—and analyzes their structural, managerial, and legal implications.
Results: The findings reveal that the change in both title and substance signified a shift from reactive crisis response toward a risk-based management paradigm. Furthermore, elevating the headquarters from the Ministry of Interior to the Presidential Office significantly enhanced national coordination, decision-making coherence, and the involvement of military and public institutions. These reforms also align with global risk management frameworks, including the 2005 Hyogo Framework for Action.
Conclusion: The study concludes that the Supreme Leader’s directives served as a catalyst for transforming crisis governance and institutionalizing a preventive orientation within Iran’s policy-making architecture. |
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| Keywords: Crisis Management, Government, Legislation, Prevention, Public Policy |
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Full-Text [PDF 565 kb]
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Letter: Original Article |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/12/6 | Accepted: 2025/12/28 | ePublished ahead of print: 2026/01/25
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