Iranian children to be recruited for Islamic Republic’s ‘self-sacrifice’ campaign

What Happened

The Janfada (self-sacrifice) campaign spokesperson, Sasan Zare, confirmed to the Iranian Labour News Agency that children under 15 will soon be offered training for the Islamic Republic’s recruitment campaign. Zare said individuals as young as 15 have already begun training and that, due to high demand, “special training appropriate for younger ages will also be arranged.” He claimed that only male children would be trained, while women would need to enlist after reaching age 18. The article notes that the Islamic Republic has admitted to recruiting children as young as 12: in March, Rahim Nadali, cultural and artistic deputy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)’s Mohammad Rasoulollah Corps, told Iran’s Defa Press Agency that the minimum age for joining the homeland defense fighters was set at 12. Days after Nadali’s announcement, 11-year-old Alireza Jafari was killed at a military checkpoint, according to Iranian state media; the Basij Teachers Organization confirmed the minor was killed “on duty.” Military training for the campaign is set to begin in Tehran this week. Zare said exercises will be carried out at military centers and in high-traffic squares, and that Imam Hussein Square would be converted into a “fully equipped military training pseudo-camp.” Training will include ensuring local security, general war preparations, observation, surveillance, intelligence measures, guiding micro-aircraft (drones) used in military operations, and the possibility of using shoulder-launched weapons. Zare said the training platform is the Basij community, the content is approved by the Basij organization, and the training capacity of all armed forces will be used. Zare alleged that of 31 million Iranians he said had enlisted in the campaign, 26% signed up for military and security duties.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The planned recruitment and training of children under 15 by the Iranian state violates the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law prohibitions on involving minors under 15 in armed forces or armed groups. It indicates an institutionalized expansion of child recruitment through Basij and IRGC-linked structures, with training in drone operations and shoulder-launched weapons, raising the risk of minors being used in military and internal security roles. The Jerusalem Post has contacted the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, signaling potential international legal scrutiny.

Watch For

Military training for the Janfada campaign is set to begin in Tehran this week, including at Imam Hussein Square. Watch for statements from the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, further announcements by Basij or IRGC officials on the age and scope of recruitment, reports from Iranian state media or rights monitors on minors at training sites or casualties, and possible international condemnation or targeted designations related to child recruitment.