Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
| Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps | |
|---|---|
| سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی | |
 Emblem of the IRGC | |
| Active | May 5, 1979 – present |
| Country |  Iran |
| Allegiance | Supreme Leader of Iran |
| Branch | Ground Forces, Aerospace Force, Navy, Quds Force, Basij |
| Type | Multidisciplinary military force |
| Role | Protecting the Islamic Republic system; Internal security; Ballistic missile program |
| Size | ~190,000 active personnel ~350,000–600,000 Basij volunteers |
| Garrison/HQ | Tehran, Iran |
| Nickname(s) | Sepah or Pasdaran |
| Motto(s) | (Arabic: وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ) "And prepare against them whatever force you can" |
| Engagements | Iran–Iraq War Syrian Civil War 2026 Iran war |
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) (Persian: سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی, romanized: Sepâh-e Pâsdârân-e Enghelâb-e Eslâmi, lit. 'Army of Guardians of the Islamic Revolution' or Sepâh for short) is a military branch of the Iranian government Armed Forces. It was founded after the Iranian Revolution on April 22, 1979[1] by order of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.[2]
History
[change | change source]Ayatollah Khomeini, the first leader of the Islamic Republic, was the founder of the IRGC.[3] He did not wholly believe in the old army as they had been serving the King (the Shah) prior to the revolution.[4] He desired a new army of troops who could be loyal only to the new religious government.[5]
Gradually, the IRGC developed into a large group of volunteers to a very large organization, having its own army, navy and air force.
Recent Events (2025–2026)
[change | change source]Around the end of 2025 and early 2026, the IRGC acquired the position of the most significant element of the Iranian government. After the demise of the then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the IRGC played a central role in determining the new leader of the country.
Organization
[change | change source]The IRGC consists of five divisions:
- Ground Forces: The land army.
- Aerospace Force: They handle the planes and the arsenal of missiles owned by Iran.
- Navy: They are in charge of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.
- Basij paramilitary force: An organization within the IRGC that is made up of volunteers. It includes armed groups and riot police units that support other Iranian security organizations.[6]
- The Quds Force: A special organization operating mostly outside of Iran. They help and work together with groups in other countries such as Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.
Influence and activities
[change | change source]The IRGC is not only a military organization. It also has a lot of power in Iran in other ways:[7]
- Politics: Many senior government officials in Iran were former officers of the IRGC.[8]
- Economy: The IRGC possesses or runs numerous businesses, such as construction enterprises, oil enterprises and telecommunications.[9]
- Security: It is their role to prevent demonstrations and maintain peace within Iran.[10]
Controversies
[change | change source]Due to its involvement in foreign wars and perpetration of protests on its home territory, the IRGC has been considered a terrorist group by many nations and groups (such as the United States, Canada, and the European Union).
Key Facts Table
[change | change source]| Feature | Information |
| Founded | May 5, 1979 |
| Headquarters | Tehran, Iran |
| Current Leader | Ahmad Vahidi (since 2025) |
| Reports To | The Supreme Leader of Iran |
| Purpose | To protect the Islamic Revolution |
References
[change | change source]- ↑ staff, writer. "How was IRGC founded?". Tasnim news Agency. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- ↑ IISS Military Balance 2006, Routledge for the IISS, London, 2006, p. 187
- ↑ "U.S. intelligence says Iran's regime is consolidating power". The Washington Post. 2026-03-16. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
- ↑ "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps".
- ↑ "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facts for kids". kids.kiddle.co. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
- ↑ "What we know about the volunteer militia cracking down on Iranian protests". ABC News. 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
- ↑ Stahle, Madeline (2026-03-24). "Mojtaba Khamenei's Iran and the Politics of Succession". Gulf International Forum. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
- ↑ "The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) | Council on Foreign Relations". www.cfr.org. 2026-01-30. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
- ↑ "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps".
- ↑ "What is Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Why is it Designated a Terror Group by the US, EU? | AJC". www.ajc.org. 2026-01-30. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
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