Iranian authorities have launched a nationwide mobilization drive aimed at training and arming civilian volunteers under the Basij militia, a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Banners displaying images of rocket-propelled grenades, sniper rifles, and military communications equipment have appeared across Tehran, urging citizens to learn how to operate such equipment. The initiative, known as Janfada or “those who sacrifice their life,” was first unveiled in late March during heightened conflict with the United States and Israel.
On Friday, thousands of participants—including children, women, and men—marched through downtown Tehran in what officials described as a “military exercise.” While authorities claimed the event drew 313,000 people, a number symbolically significant in Twelver Shia tradition as the number of Imam Mahdi’s companions, state television footage did not substantiate the figure. Hassan Hassanzadeh, head of the IRGC in Tehran, reported that over 600,000 individuals had registered for the active mobilization component via a dedicated website.
The campaign has faced scrutiny regarding its participation numbers. When launched in March, organizers asserted that more than 31 million people—roughly a third of Iran’s total population—had signed up. However, foreign-based activists who examined the website’s source code found fewer than four million registrations. Registration required only a phone number, not national identification. Despite earlier controversies, Hassanzadeh claimed on Friday that 33 million people are now registered, though no documentation has been provided to verify this figure.
While the IRGC stated that approximately one million volunteers have been organized into 1,000 initial units, the mobilization extends beyond military roles. Organizers noted that only 26 percent of registrants selected military or security positions, with the remainder choosing categories such as rescue operations, social services, media, and financial support.
President Masoud Pezeshkian used the occasion to urge volunteers to support the administration by reducing consumption of fuel, electricity, and other resources. Iran is currently grappling with severe energy shortages and economic instability exacerbated by the war. Fuel prices were increased and personal vehicle quotas limited earlier this month, while households and industries have endured intermittent power blackouts throughout the summer. Natural gas shortages are anticipated during the upcoming cold season.
The recent parade placed particular emphasis on youth engagement. Teenagers were seen carrying assault rifles and manning checkpoints in various cities. Sasan Zare, spokesman for the Janfada campaign, told the Iranian Labour News Agency that boys over 15 are eligible to register, with plans to include those under 15 in the future. He described the effort as旨在 introducing young people to a culture of sacrifice and patriotism.
Women also played a prominent role in the demonstration, with many dressed in chadors and wielding weapons. Some were filmed riding motorcycles, an activity officially banned for women in public spaces. A Shia cleric was also pictured riding in a military vehicle past a billboard depicting Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.
The mobilization occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions with the US. Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, recently communicated seven conditions for negotiations to Washington through intermediaries but stated that commanders remain prepared to resume hostilities. The US continues to enforce a naval blockade on Iran’s southern ports and has intensified sanctions.
Analysts suggest the campaign may serve to rehabilitate the Basij’s public image. Ali Alfoneh, a senior fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute, noted that since the end of the Iran-Iraq war in 1988, the Basij has become associated with domestic repression rather than patriotic defense. He argued that the Janfada initiative appears designed to restore the militia’s former image in anticipation of potential internal unrest or external threats, including fears of a US- or Israeli-backed civil war in Iran’s peripheral regions.
This push for civilian mobilization follows widespread protests in January, which authorities labeled a US-orchestrated coup. A United Nations fact-finding mission recently alleged that the Islamic Republic committed crimes against humanity during the crackdown, while Amnesty International identified numerous senior officials involved in abuses during the 2022-23 protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.
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