1. Despite the fact that the Iranian army was numerically much stronger they decided to hold a defensive position. For over two hundred miles during the advance of the Arab army, mostly on hilly routes, the Iranian army had failed to impose delay by sending any force. Perhaps this was the initial phase of their plan to lure the Arab army to hit their strong hold (considered impregnable by them) at NEHAWAND. The plan was defensive, lacked aggressiveness despite the fact that for an offensive action sufficient infantry, horsemen, chariots and some elephants were available. The Iranians were sure that the Arab army would attack their formidable defensive position, get badly mauled, suffer casualties and eventually would be forced to retire in panic. The Iranians had left the initiative with the Arabs but failed to perceive that the Arab C-in-C could adopt an unexpected course and with superior tactics would be able to entice the Iranians to come out of their defensive position in a disorganised manner and get defeated.
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