114-596: Seraj-1 is a military speed boat that is used by Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps . It is based on the British made Bradstone Challenger, a Bladerunner 51, which holds the record for the fastest circumnavigation of Britain. Militarized speed boats have been the core of the Iranian military doctrine since their commanders believe that speed boats can counter the USA's massive warships. Sales of Bladerunner 51 were blocked to Iran by
228-544: A Takavar (special force) unit, called Sepah Navy Special Force (S.N.S.F.). The navy received 750 new ships 2024 July. Corps Intelligence directorate are accused of meddling in the 2021 Iranian presidential election . The 2020 edition of The Military Balance, published by IISS , says the IRGC has about 190,000 active personnel and controls the Basij on mobilisation (as much as 40,000 active paramilitary forces). It estimates
342-430: A "divine assessment" and that protests would no longer be tolerated. However, the opposition did not accept this and the protests occurred, albeit on a smaller scale. The next day, 20 June, fewer protesters took to streets. At the protests that did occur, said to number in the tens of thousands of people, much violence occurred, causing many would-be protesters to stay in their homes the next day, Sunday, 21 June. On 20 June,
456-440: A historical connotation of soldiers, while in modern Persian it is also used to describe a corps-sized unit – in modern Persian Artesh ( ارتش ) is the more standard term for an army. Pâsdârân ( پاسداران ) is the plural form of Pâsdâr ( پاسدار ), meaning "Guardian", and members of Sepah are known as Pāsdār , which is also their title and comes after their rank . Apart from the name Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ,
570-472: A new order to Iran. In time, the Pasdaran would rival the police and the judiciary in terms of its functions. Although the IRGC operated independently of the regular armed forces, it was often considered to be a military force in its own right due to its important role in Iranian defense. The IRGC consists of ground, naval, and aviation troops, which parallel the structure of the regular military. The Pasdaran
684-418: A provincial corps, except Tehran Province, which will have two. In 2007 command for cyber security was established part of cyberdefense of IRGC. It was renamed in 2014, abbreviated GCDC or CIOC. Basij Mustazafin were initially separate organization but were merged in 1980 into Corps and merged to its land forces since 2008. The Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia or "plainclothes militia" founded by
798-592: A senior IRGC commander was killed in combat near Mosul, Iraq. In December 2019, the U.S. Air Force conducted airstrikes on weapons caches and facilities of the IRGC-sponsored militant group Kata'ib Hezbollah . In retaliation, the group attacked the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad in the Green Zone . On 3 January 2020, Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike at Baghdad International Airport along with
912-485: A soldier and have military training. ... a country with 20 million young people [should have] 20 million riflemen, an army of 20 million" This pronouncement and Article 151 of the constitution, which calls for the government to "provide a program of military training, with all requisite facilities, for all its citizens, in accordance with the Islamic criteria, in such a way that all citizens will always be able to engage in
1026-490: A story on the riots and had gotten caught in the middle of the violence. While Lambrecht had taken a punch, Vandervorst was arrested by riot police. When Lambrecht went to check where Vandervorst was being taken, he was promptly arrested as well. Both were taken to the Ministry of Information and detained in the basement. They were both released after two hours with strict instructions not to make any photos or film recordings of
1140-654: A week by Iranian authorities, who gave no explanation for the decision. NBC News offices in Tehran were raided, with cameras and other equipment confiscated. Meanwhile, the director of BBC World Service accused the Iranian Government of jamming its broadcasts to the country. Peter Horrocks said audiences in Iran, the Middle East, and Europe had been affected by an electronic block on satellites used to broadcast
1254-501: A young Iranian woman, identified as Neda Agha-Soltan , was shot and died in front of cameras on Kargar Avenue in Tehran. Highly graphic amateur videos of the killing rapidly spread viral across the Internet after being posted to Facebook and YouTube. On 22 June, riot police broke up the main rally in Tehran with tear gas and live fire into the air. During Friday, 26 June, prayers were broadcast live on television, and Ahmad Khatami
SECTION 10
#17327904030371368-669: Is a constitutionally protected paramilitary force that operates alongside the regular Armed forces, whose primary function is to protect the Islamic Republic. The Revolutionary Guards also have an auxiliary wing called the Basij , who provide support in enforcing religious laws and suppressing dissidents. They are not considered full members of the Revolutionary Guards, and lack the training given to full-time members, although they can be called up at any time to assist
1482-751: Is a multi-service primary branch of the Iranian Armed Forces . It was officially established by Ruhollah Khomeini as a military branch in May 1979 in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution . Whereas the Iranian Army protects the country's sovereignty in a traditional capacity, the IRGC's constitutional mandate is to ensure the integrity of the Islamic Republic . Most interpretations of this mandate assert that it entrusts
1596-405: Is a special operations unit, handling activities abroad. The force basically does not engage directly. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force or Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Air and Space Force (IRGCASF; Persian : نیروی هوافضای سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی , romanized : niru-ye havâfazây-e sepâh-e pâsdârân-e enghelâb-e eslâmi , officially acronymed NEHSA )
1710-694: Is based on the Bladerunner 51, the Seraj-1 is probably capable of speeds between 55 knots (63 mph) and 72 knots (83 mph). Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ; Persian : سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی Sepāh-e Pāsdārān-e Enqelāb-e Eslāmī , lit. ' Army of Guardians of the Islamic Revolution ' ), also known as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards ,
1824-417: Is equipped with a 107 mm MRLS and bow mounted DShK 12.7 mm HMG . An advantage of the Seraj-1 is that, just like the Bladerunner 51, it is very stable at high speeds in rough seas, thereby creating a stable platform to fire weapons. Consequently, Ahmad Vahidi described the Seraj-1 as, "(A) vessel (which) is a fast and offensive rocket launcher designed for regions with tropical weather." As it
1938-436: Is intended to complement the more traditional role of the regular Iranian military, with the two forces operating separately and focusing on different operational roles. The IRGC is a combined arms force with its own ground forces , navy , air force , intelligence , and special forces . It also controls the Basij militia. The Basij is a volunteer-based force, with 90,000 regular soldiers and 300,000 reservists. The IRGC
2052-565: Is now Iran's primary force exercising operational control over the Persian Gulf . The IRGC's Basij , a paramilitary volunteer militia, has about 90,000 active personnel. It operates a media arm, known as "Sepah News" within Iran. On 16 March 2022, it adopted a new independent branch called the "Command for the Protection and Security of Nuclear Centres" involved with Iran's nuclear programme . Originating as an ideological militia,
2166-480: Is officially recognized as a component of the Iranian military under Article 150 of the Iranian Constitution . It is separate from, and parallel to, the other arm of Iran 's military, which is called Artesh (another Persian word for an army). Especially in the waters of the Persian Gulf , the IRGC is expected to assume control of any Iranian response to attacks on its nuclear facilities. The IRGC
2280-417: Is reported to have a strong influence over his father and is talked about as his possible successor. Mojtaba is affiliated with former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad . On 16 June, Reuters reported that former vice-president Mohammad-Ali Abtahi and former presidential advisor Saeed Hajjarian had been arrested. Human rights lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani , who had been demanding a recount of all votes,
2394-612: Is reported to have said that "Anybody who fights against the Islamic system or the leader of Islamic society, fight him until complete destruction" and called for the execution of leading demonstrators as they are "people who wage war against God". On Monday, 29 June, the Guardian Council certified the results of the controversial election. This set off a wave of protests, disregarding the Iranian government's ban on street marches. The Iranian intelligence chief alleged that western and "Zionist" forces were responsible for inciting
SECTION 20
#17327904030372508-775: Is the strategic missile , air , and space force within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran . It was renamed from the IRGC Air Force into the IRGC Aerospace Force in 2009. Its 15,000 personnel man around 80 aircraft and operates several thousand short- and medium-range mobile ballistic missiles, including the Shahab-3/3B with a range of up to 2,100 kilometers. IRGC started naval operations using mainly swarm tactics and speedboats during " Tanker War " phase of
2622-512: The New York Times claims that this is due to the high fluctuation among voters during the campaign season. The election for presidency took place on 12 June 2009. Unlike the election in 2005 , the 2009 election featured high participation. The results of the elections were announced only 2 hours after the end of the votes, which may seem impossible. The official results were rejected by all three opposition candidates, who claimed that
2736-567: The 2009 Iranian presidential election , protests broke out in major cities across Iran in support of opposition candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi . The protests continued until 2010, and were titled the Iranian Green Movement ( Persian : جنبش سبز Jonbesh-e Sabz ) by their proponents, reflecting Mousavi's campaign theme, and Persian Awakening , Persian Spring or Green Revolution . Protests began on
2850-603: The Freedom Movement of Iran , Ebrahim Yazdi , was arrested while undergoing tests at the Tehran hospital. In Tabriz , other Freedom Movement activists and eight members of the IIPF were arrested, with reports of at least 100 civic figures' arrests. The total number of arrests across Iran since the election was reported as 500. Aaron Rhodes , a spokesman for the international campaign for human rights in Iran, stated that "Iranian intelligence and security forces are using
2964-711: The Quds Force , the commando arm of the IRGC that had been blamed for repeated acts of violence in Iraq, and "high-value targets" in the war on terror. In October 2009, several top commanders of the Revolutionary Guards were killed in a suicide bombing in the Pishin region of Sistan-Baluchistan , in the south-east of Iran. The Iranian state television said 31 people died in the attack, and more than 25 were injured. Shia and Sunni tribal leaders were also killed. The Sunni Baluchi insurgent group Jundullah claimed responsibility for
3078-2752: The Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 incident. However, the IRGC later admitted that the plane had been shot down by mistake. 2009 Iranian presidential election protests United States : Atlanta , Charlotte , Cincinnati , Preston , Iowa, Dallas , Denver , Houston , Indianapolis , Irvine , Kansas City , Las Cruces , Las Vegas , Los Angeles , Madison , Miami , Minneapolis , New York City , Orlando , Philadelphia , Portland , San Diego , San Francisco , San Jose , Seattle , State College , Tempe , Washington, D.C. Canada : Calgary , Edmonton , Halifax , Hamilton , London , Montreal , Ottawa , Toronto , Vancouver , Waterloo Germany : Berlin , Bochum , Cologne , Dortmund , Düsseldorf , Frankfurt , Hamburg , Hannover , Heidelberg , Münster , Stuttgart Sweden : Stockholm , Gothenburg , Malmö , Skellefteå , Karlstad , Sundsvall , Uppsala , Helsingborg , Umeå , Jönköping , Uddevalla , Borås Netherlands : The Hague , Amsterdam , Delft , Leiden , Groningen , Maastricht , Italy : Rome , Milan , Turin , Florence Switzerland : Geneva , Lausanne , Zürich , Bern Australia : Sydney , Melbourne , Canberra , Adelaide Spain : Barcelona , Madrid Ukraine : Kyiv , Kharkiv United Kingdom : London , Edinburgh , Glasgow , Manchester , Sheffield , Nottingham , Bristol France : Paris , Lyon Belgium : Brussels , Leuven New Zealand : Auckland , Wellington , Christchurch Malaysia : Kuala Lumpur Portugal : Lisbon Austria : Vienna , Salzburg Romania : Bucharest Hungary : Budapest Czech Republic : Prague Japan : Tokyo , Yokohama , Osaka , Kyoto , Nagoya Denmark : Copenhagen , Aarhus Norway : Oslo , Bergen , Trondheim , Stavanger , Arendal , Kristiansand South Korea : Seoul , Busan , Daegu Armenia : Yerevan Israel : Tel Aviv United Arab Emirates : Dubai Turkey : Istanbul , Ankara Pakistan : Islamabad , Karachi , Lahore , Peshawar Egypt : Cairo Kuwait : Kuwait City Greece : Athens Cyprus : Nicosia Bulgaria : Sofia Azerbaijan : Baku Poland : Warsaw Finland : Helsinki Ireland : Dublin Singapore : Singapore India : Hyderabad Bangladesh : Dhaka Philippines : Manila [REDACTED] Iranian Green Movement [REDACTED] Government After incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared victory in
3192-810: The University of Tehran , although many were later released. Acting Police Chief Ahmad-Reza Radan stated via the state press service on 14 June that "in the interrogation of related rebels, we intend to find the link between the plotters and foreign media". A judiciary spokesman said they had not been arrested, but that they were summoned, "warned not to increase tension", and later released. Intelligence minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejehei linked some arrests to terrorism supported from outside Iran, stating that "more than 20 explosive consignments were discovered". Others, he said, were "counter-revolutionary groups [who had] penetrated election headquarters" of
3306-600: The collapse of the Shah's regime in 1979 . The government is based on the concept of Velayat-e Faqih , which is a system of governance in which a faqih was to serve as the Supreme Leader . However, following calls that this idea was undemocratic, the system was moderately altered into the current "Islamic Republic", in which a council of clerics , who are elected by the people, choose the Supreme Leader who, per
3420-678: The 2009 presidential election protest. According to the Associated Press , it is speculated that the protests may be connected to the country's economy and corruption. Another wave of protests occurred following these election protests across Iran in 2011. On the weekend of 13/14 June, in a series of raids across Tehran , the government arrested over 170 people, according to police officials. Among them were prominent reformist politicians, including MIRO founder Behzad Nabavi , IIPF leader Mohsen Mirdamadi , and former president Mohammad Khatami 's brother Mohammad-Reza Khatami , who
3534-634: The BBC Persian Television signal to Iran, adding: "It seems to be part of a pattern of behaviour by the Iranian authorities to limit the reporting of the aftermath of the disputed election". A BBC corporate official has referred to the network's conflict with the regime as ' electronic warfare '. On 15 June, Belgian national television reporter Jef Lambrecht from the Flemish public television broadcaster VRT and his sound technician, Vandervorst, were arrested in Tehran. They had been doing
Seraj-class speedboat - Misplaced Pages Continue
3648-484: The Basij serve as an auxiliary force engaged in activities such as internal security as well as law enforcement auxiliary, the providing of social service, organizing of public religious ceremonies, and as morality police and the suppression of dissident gatherings. The elite Quds Force (or Jerusalem Force), sometimes described as the successor to the Shah 's Imperial Guards , is estimated to be 2,000–5,000 in number. It
3762-542: The Department of Statistics of the University of Michigan , considering data from the first stage of the 2005 presidential election produces results that "give moderately strong support for a diagnosis that the 2009 election was affected by significant fraud". The UK-based think-tank Chatham House also suspected fraud in the voting process for a number of reasons: On Saturday 13 June after election results announced that Ahmadinejad had won, supporters of Mousavi took to
3876-613: The Ground Force is 150,000 strong and the Aerospace Force, which controls Iran's strategic-missile force, has some 15,000 personnel. The Naval Forces are estimated to size at least 20,000, including 5,000 Marines . During the Lebanese Civil War , the IRGC allegedly sent troops to train fighters in response to the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon . In Lebanon, political parties had staunch opinions regarding
3990-492: The IRGC has taken a greater role in nearly every aspect of Iranian politics and society. In 2010, BBC News described the organization as an "Empire". In 2019, Reuters described it as "an industrial empire with political clout". IRGC's expanded social, political, military, and economic role under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad —especially during the 2009 presidential election and the suppression of post-election protests —has led many Western analysts to argue that it has surpassed even
4104-469: The IRGC was in the process of dramatically changing its structure. In a shake-up, in September 2008 Iran's Revolutionary Guards established 31 divisions and an autonomous missile command. The new structure changes the IRGC from a centralized to a decentralized force with 31 provincial corps, whose commanders wield extensive authority and power. According to the plan, each of Iran's thirty provinces will have
4218-528: The IRGC with preventing foreign interference in Iran , thwarting coups by the traditional military, and crushing "deviant movements" that harm the ideological legacy of the Islamic Revolution. Currently, the IRGC is designated as a terrorist organization by Bahrain , Canada , Saudi Arabia , Sweden and the United States . As of 2024 , the IRGC had approximately 125,000 total personnel. The IRGC Navy
4332-592: The IRGC's presence. Some, mainly the Christian militias such as the Lebanese Forces , Phalanges , and most of the Christian groups declared war on the IRGC, claiming they violated Lebanese sovereignty, while others, including Muslim militias, were neutral to their presence. Groups such as the PSP and Mourabiton did not approve of their presence, but to preserve political alliances they decided to remain silent on
4446-885: The IRGC; their status as members of the Iranian military is only vaguely acknowledged and sometimes denied, despite the troops being uniformed fighters led by IRGC officers. They were trained and equipped in Iran, paid salaries by the Iranian military, and received state funerals involving uniformed IRGC personnel. Mid to late October 2015 was particularly bloody for the IRGC, due to them stepping up their involvement in offensives around Aleppo . During this time, 30 IRGC officers, including "three generals, battalion commanders, captains and lieutenants" and "one pilot" were killed in fighting in Syria, as were several Afghan and Pakistani auxiliaries. The fallen included General Hossein Hamadani , Farshad Hosounizadeh (IRGC colonel and former commander of
4560-459: The Internet). Hospitals were prohibited from registering the dead bodies or injured people, as a medical student at Rasoul-Akram hospital witnessed on the night of 15 June: "Nine people died at our hospital and another 28 had gunshot wounds... [the government] removed the dead bodies on back of trucks, before we were even able to get their names or other information... No one was allowed to speak to
4674-401: The Iranian Government usually employs heavy handed tactics to marginalize any attempt at regime removal and usually justifies this with the "enemy of god" classification. In 1997, following the unexpected victory of a before-little-known reformist cleric Mohammad Khatami , there was a revival of a moderate faction within the government whom the public believed had the ability to reform and curb
Seraj-class speedboat - Misplaced Pages Continue
4788-552: The Iranian Government, media, and those who identify with the organization generally use Sepāh-e Pâsdârân (Army of the Guardians), although it is not uncommon to hear Pâsdârân-e Enghelâb ( پاسداران انقلاب ) (Guardians of the Revolution), or simply Pâsdârân ( پاسداران ) (Guardians) as well. Among the Iranian population, and especially among diaspora Iranians, using the word Pasdaran indicates hatred or admiration for
4902-532: The Iranian regime's agents in jail can be downloaded here: Blogger According to the Telegraph , on 14 June "Iran's regime was doing its utmost to choke off the flow of news from its capital". Al Jazeera English has leveled allegations of direct media censorship by the Iranian government, stating that "some of the newspapers have been given notices to change their editorials or their main headlines". The Al Arabiya 's offices in Tehran were closed on 14 June for
5016-562: The Iran–Iraq War. IRGC Navy and the regular Artesh Navy overlap functions and areas of responsibility, but they are distinct in terms of how they are trained and equipped—and more importantly also in how they fight. The Revolutionary Guards Navy has a large inventory of small fast attack craft, and specializes in asymmetric hit-and-run tactics . It is more akin to a guerrilla force at sea, and maintains large arsenals of coastal defense and anti-ship cruise missiles and mines. It has also
5130-647: The Iraqi government in its fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Major General Qasem Soleimani was an instrumental force in the Iranian ground mission in Iraq against ISIS , purportedly planning the Second Battle of Tikrit . In December 2014, Brigadier General Hamid Taqavi , a veteran of the 1980–1988 Iran–Iraq War , was killed by snipers in Samarra . In May 2017, Shaaban Nassiri,
5244-659: The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Estimates by the Los Angeles Times suggest IRGC has ties to over one hundred companies and annual revenue in excess of $ 12 billion, particularly in construction. The Ministry of Petroleum awarded IRGC billions of dollars in contracts as well as major infrastructure projects. Most government-issued contracts were awarded to these companies, and private enterprise in Iran has been struggling heavily against these groups. The election of
5358-698: The Islamic republic, "enemies of god" and pursued a mass campaign of torture, rape, and execution against members of the Mojahedin, Fadaiyan , and Tudeh parties as well as their families, close friends, and even anyone who was accused of insufficient Islamic behavior, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Iranians who were usually tried in secret kangaroo courts run by hard line clerics. Following Operation Mersad in 1988, Khomeini ordered all prisons to execute those still in captivity , resulting in an estimated 3,000 to 30,000 dead. Since then, no organized opposition has surfaced in Iran and following this experience,
5472-617: The PMF commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis . Iran revolutionary guards said that they had shot down an Israeli drone approaching the Natanz nuclear facility . According to ISNA , "The downed aircraft was of the stealth, radar-evasive type ... and was targeted by a ground-to-air missile before it managed to enter the area." The statement by revolutionary guards did not mention how they recognized it as an Israeli drone. Israel offered no comment. Iranian authorities initially denied responsibility for
5586-482: The Parliament during the inauguration, with protesters chanting "death to the dictator". Major protests would continue after the inauguration as well. Among the largest were protests that were held on Iranian holidays, such as Quds Day on 18 September, 13th of Aban on 4 November and Iranian Students Day on 7 December. According to The Guardian , it was projected that more than 500,000 people participated in
5700-523: The Pasdaran (Pasdaran-e Enghelab-e Islami) functioned as a corps of the faithful. The Constitution of the Islamic Republic entrusted the defense of Iran's territorial integrity and political independence to the regular military ( artesh ) , while it gave the Pasdaran the responsibility of preserving the Revolution itself. Days after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's return to Tehran on 1 February 1979, Mehdi Bazargan 's interim administration established
5814-427: The Pasdaran under a decree issued by Khomeini on 5 May. The Pasdaran was intended to protect the Revolution and to assist the ruling clerics in the day-to-day enforcement of the new government's Islamic codes and morality. There were other, perhaps more important, reasons for establishing the Pasdaran. The Revolution needed to rely on a force of its own rather than borrowing the previous regime's tainted units. As one of
SECTION 50
#17327904030375928-525: The Revolutionary Guards and the Security Services to crack down on most reformist movements. Despite reformists gaining a majority in the Majlis in 2000 and Khatami winning the 2001 election as well, Khamenei would oppose any attempts at liberalization of the government or society. Most Iranians and observers in general have regarded the reform movement to have been a failure with Saeed Hajjarian ,
6042-781: The Saberin Special Forces Brigade), Mostafa Sadrzadeh (commander of the Omar Battalion of the Fatmiyoon Brigade), and Hamid Mojtaba Mokhtarband (IRGC commander). Two battalions of Revolutionary Guards were reported to be operating in Iraq trying to combat the 2014 Northern Iraq offensive . The IRGC is considered to be a principle backer of the Popular Mobilization Forces , a loose coalition of Shi'a militias allied with
6156-532: The Syrian war, Iran had between 2,000 and 3,000 IRGC officers stationed in Syria, helping to train local troops and managing supply routes of arms and money to neighboring Lebanon. General Qa'ani, Senior officer of Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, said: "If the Islamic Republic was not present in Syria, the massacre of civilians would have been twice as bad. Had physically and non-physically stopped
6270-534: The United Nations uses Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps . The force's main role is to provide national security. It is responsible for internal and border security, law enforcement, and also Iran's missile forces . IRGC operations are geared towards asymmetric warfare and less traditional duties. These include the control of smuggling, control of the Strait of Hormuz , and resistance operations. The IRGC
6384-651: The United States, who claim that the program is a cover up for a much larger nuclear weapons program. As a result, the United Nations has placed sanctions on the Iranian government, which has had a heavy impact on the economy, reducing the value of the Iranian Rial from a low of 8,000 to the dollar in 2005 to 10,000 to the dollar in 2009. Iran has been experiencing high birth rates since 1988, both due to an increase in standard of living and government encouragement of large families, with an estimated 60 percent of
6498-406: The armed defense of the Islamic Republic of Iran," are believed to refer to the Basij. While "Iranian official estimates sometime put their total part-time and full-time strength at more than 20 million", others estimate the Basij as having "a core strength of 90,000, and up to 600,000" (CSIS, 11 January 2018, p. 4); at 100,000 with "hundreds of thousands of additional Basij could be mobilized in
6612-705: The attack. The Iranian government initially blamed the United States for involvement in the attacks, as well as Saudi Arabia , the United Kingdom and later Pakistan for their alleged support of the Jundallah group. The United States denied involvement, but some reports of US assistance to Jundallah during the Bush administration have come from Western sources. The attacks appear to have originated in Pakistan and several suspects have been arrested. Prior to
6726-427: The balance of power in Iran to the advantage of conservatives. Analysis in the international press considered the removal of Safavi to be a sign of change in the defense strategies of Iran, but the general policies of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps are not personally determined by its commander. Iran's top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , was assassinated in Tehran , Iran on 27 November 2020. Fakhrizadeh
6840-503: The bodies showed signs of torture, including broken bones, finger nails torn off, and rape. Iranian film maker Reza Allamehzadeh made a documentary about Azar Al-Kanan, a prominent Iranian human rights activist and former political prisoner in Iran who became one of the victims of torture, sexual abuse, and finally, rape. The documentary was released after ex-chairman of Iranian parliament Mehdi Karroubi called for investigation of sexual abuse of protesters in prisons by Iranian police and
6954-443: The constitution, has to be a cleric (though this was altered in 1988). The Supreme Leader, in turn appoints the members of the twelve member Guardian Council , who approve laws and candidates for elections, even at the presidential level. The President of Iran is not the commander-in-chief, and the control of the military, police, and the parallel Revolutionary Guards is under the control of the Supreme Leader. The Revolutionary Guards
SECTION 60
#17327904030377068-411: The country being under the age of 30. However, the economy has failed to keep pace with the number of people entering the job market and Iran has been experiencing high unemployment rates since early 2000. Ahmadinejad began a campaign of privatization of state enterprises, but most companies ended up in the hands of government-connected officials and foundations ( bonyads ) operated by wealthy clerics and
7182-425: The country's ruling clerical class in terms of political power. Since 2019, Hossein Salami has served as the IRGC's incumbent commander-in-chief. Government organizations in Iran are commonly known by one-word names (that generally denote their function) rather than acronyms or shortened versions, and the general populace universally refers to the IRGC as Sepâh ( سپاه ) ( Sepoy ; Sipahi ). Sepâh has
7296-405: The country, with former inmates alleging mass rape of men, women, and children by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards in prisons such as Kahrizak and Evin . The Iranian government confirmed the deaths of 36 people during the protests, while unconfirmed reports by Mousavi supporters allege at least 72 deaths (over twice as many) in the three months following the election. They claimed relatives of
7410-435: The deceased were forced to sign documents citing death by heart attack or meningitis . Iranian authorities closed universities in Tehran, blocked websites, cut off mobile signals and banned rallies. The creation of the Iranian Green Movement developed during these protests. It was also termed the "Twitter Revolution", due to protesters' reliance on Twitter and other social media to communicate. Since 1980 following
7524-480: The destruction of Israel and claimed that the Holocaust was used by Israel to justify Israeli government crimes. The funding of anti-Israeli groups went up exponentially, particularly towards Hamas and Hezbollah , which have been labeled as terrorist groups by the United States. Despite Iran's huge oil and gas reserves, those sectors have been relatively neglected in favor of a nuclear energy program that has cost billions of dollars and has been condemned by Israel and
7638-463: The director of the Iranian Studies program at Stanford), the regime "clearly ... believed it was going to lose control, and the IRGC and the Basij saved the day. The result is that the IRGC now has the upper hand. Khamenei knows that without the IRGC he'd be out of a job in twenty-four hours." Yahya Rahim Safavi , head of the IRGC since 1997, was dismissed as commander in chief of the Revolutionary Guards in August 2007. The dismissal of Safavi disrupted
7752-416: The election candidates. Relatives of several detained protesters have confirmed that the interrogation of prisoners is now being headed by Saeed Mortazavi , a figure already known for alleged involvement in brutal interrogations and torture. Mojtaba Khamenei , the second son of Ayatollah Khamenei, has emerged as one of the driving forces behind the government's crackdown, diplomats and observers said. He
7866-505: The event or an all-out war" (CRS, 23 May 2018, p. 18). The Basij are "the most visible symbol" of the Pasdaran's strength, whose members "can be seen on street corners in every Iranian city". They are (at least in theory) subordinate to, and receive their orders from, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. However they have also been described as "a loosely allied group of organizations" including "many groups controlled by local clerics." Currently,
7980-465: The exposure of the murders of dissidents by the intelligence services in reformist newspapers (which were run by former Revolutionary Guards and intelligence agents now turned reformists), the government began to distrust Khatami and his faction, a conflict which reached the breaking point after the 1999 student protests , after which hardliners such as Mohammad Ali Jafari , Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf , and Qasem Soleimani were promoted to take control of
8094-423: The first revolutionary institutions, the Pasdaran helped legitimize the Revolution and gave the new government an armed basis of support. Moreover, the establishment of the Pasdaran served notice to both the population and the regular armed forces that the Khomeini government was quickly developing its own enforcement body. Thus, the Pasdaran, along with its political counterpart, Crusade for Reconstruction, brought
8208-448: The government prior to being allowed to claim bodies. When the death was due to gunshot wounds, some were reportedly asked to pay a $ 3,000 fee, ostensibly for the bullet used by security forces. Restrictions on burial locations have also been reported, and the Iranian government did not permit a memorial service for Neda Agha-Soltan. Time speculates that the Shi'ite cycle of mourning on
8322-472: The idea of Mohandas Gandhi that "even the most powerful cannot rule without the cooperation of the ruled." Iranian authorities, in an attempt to stop Moussavi's supporters from hosting a news conference, sealed off his campaign headquarters, according to the BBC. On 5 August, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in for his second term as President of Iran in an official inauguration in Tehran. Protests were held outside
8436-534: The judicial system, both under the responsibility of the Supreme Leader. Karroubi's letter angered conservatives and the head of Iranian parliament, Ali Larijani , and senior cleric and representative of the Supreme Leader, Ahmad Khatami , denied the reports of sexual abuse. Following the denials, on 16 August 2009, Fereshteh Ghazi , in an article in Rooz , wrote her story and described the torture and sexual violence in Iranian prison. Testimonies from victims of rape by
8550-506: The killed, injured, and arrested people. Among those who were killed by the government forces, names such as Sohrab Aarabi , Naser Amirnejad, Masoud Hashemzadeh, and Mohammad Kamrani are confirmed. Among them, the death of Sohrab Aarabi received special news attention, after Mousavi and Karroubi visited his family. The families of those who died were allegedly subjected to penalties and bureaucratic red tape , such as being asked to sign paperwork that they do not have complaints against
8664-447: The main theorist behind the movement, declaring in 2003 that "the reform movement is dead. Long live the reform movement". In 2005, Tehran Mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected to the presidency, defeating now reformist Ali-Akbar Rafsanjani , placing the conservatives in charge of the government once more. Ahmadinejad would focus his presidency on confronting Israel . His speeches gained international infamy, which usually called for
8778-579: The matter. During the 2006 Lebanon War , several Iranian Revolutionary Guards were reportedly killed by Israeli forces in Baalbek , a town close to the Syrian border. Israeli officials believe that Iranian Revolutionary Guards forces were responsible for training and equipping the Hezbollah fighters behind the missile attack on the INS Hanit which left four Israeli sailors dead and seriously damaged
8892-419: The news; "blitz" street demonstrations "lasting just long enough to chant 'Death to the dictator!' several times", but not long enough for security forces to arrive; identifying paramilitary Basij vigilantes linked to the crackdown and putting marks in the opposition color green, or pictures of protest victims in front of their homes; scribbled anti-regime slogans on money. The new protest is reportedly based on
9006-437: The night of 12 June 2009, following the announcement that incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won nearly 63 percent of the vote, despite several reported irregularities. However, all three opposition candidates claimed the votes were manipulated and the election was rigged, with Rezaee and Mousavi lodging official complaints. Mousavi announced he "won't surrender to this manipulation", before lodging an official appeal against
9120-544: The order of the Ayatollah Khomeini in November 1979. On November 4, 1979, in an address to the Revolutionary Guards during the Iran hostage crisis , Khomeini ordered the creation of an army of "twenty million Iranians" ( Artesh-e bis million ), proclaiming: Equip yourself, get military training and train your friends. Give military training to those who are not trained. In an Islamic country, everyone should be
9234-789: The organization. Most foreign governments and the English-speaking mass media tend to use the term Iranian Revolutionary Guards ( IRG ) or simply the Revolutionary Guards . In the US media, the force is frequently referred to interchangeably as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ). The US government standard is Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps , while
9348-540: The past. During the 1980s, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran was instrumental in opposing Ayatollah Khomeini through large protests and bombings against politicians such as Mohammad-Ali Rajai , Shahid Beheshti , and Khamenei himself, who escaped an assassination attempt that left his right arm paralyzed. Following the 1981 Hafte Tir bombing , Ayatollah Khomeini declared the Mojahedin and anyone opposed to
9462-647: The plane's engines had failed, its landing gear had jammed, and there was snow and poor visibility at the time. On 7 July 2008, investigative journalist and author Seymour Hersh wrote an article in The New Yorker stating that the Bush Administration had signed a presidential finding authorizing the CIA 's Special Activities Division to begin cross border paramilitary operations from Iraq and Afghanistan into Iran. These operations would be against
9576-409: The power of the conservatives and make the system somewhat democratic, and that Khamenei was willing to trust this faction in the hopes that it could recover the country after the eight-year war with Iraq, which Rafsanjani and the conservatives had failed to do. However, rather than promoting a reform of the system, the reformists began questioning the concept of the Islamic republic itself and following
9690-515: The president of Iran in 2009 was preceded by many Iranian surveys and a survey by the US-based Terror Free Tomorrow organization. The Terror Free Tomorrow opinion poll, conducted from 11 to 20 May 2009, predicted the high participation and showed similar ratios for the candidates to the later official result, with over a quarter yet undecided. The many Iranian surveys show a wide range of differing results. An opinion in
9804-452: The prison and their genitals were torn, but it is not yet proven. He asked the head of the assembly to investigate the issue in a letter to the head of Assembly of Experts . Iran's police chief, Gen. Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam, acknowledged that the prisoners had been abused and raped. Additionally, several of the detained died while in prison. Authorities claimed that the deaths were caused by "pre-existing conditions". However, examinations of
9918-421: The protests, the government had the police and paramilitary Basij violently suppress them; protesters were beaten, pepper sprayed , arrested and tortured, and even shot in some cases. The most widely known firearm victim was Neda Agha-Soltan , whose last moments were uploaded to YouTube and broadcast around the world. Opposition groups also reported thousands more were arrested and tortured in prisons around
10032-486: The protests. Basij members were filmed firing into crowds and breaking into houses. A number of hospital staff protested after people were transported to the hospitals dead or in critical condition with gunshot wounds. The IRGC and the Basij also attacked Universities and students' dorms at night and destroyed property. The Los Angeles Times reported that militiamen from the hard-line Iran-based Ansar-e Hezbollah group "warned that they would be patrolling
10146-457: The protests. At the same time, two Dutch reporters from Nova were also arrested and deported. On 16 June, the Ministry of Culture issued a directive banning all foreign media from leaving their offices. This directive stipulated that international news outlets could still talk about rallies in their live reports, however, they were not allowed to leave their hotel rooms and offices to witness
10260-582: The protests. Four of the nine British officials arrested on 28 June 2009 remain in custody under those charges. According to Aljazeera, the arrest of the British officials was described by the Britain as harassment and intimidation, as well as urging their release. Late July, protest had reportedly entered a "Phase II", using tactics such as the boycott of goods advertised on state-controlled television; attempting to deny power to state-run TV evening news broadcasts by turning on all electric appliances just before
10374-514: The public protests to engage in what appears to be a major purge of reform-oriented individuals whose situations in detention could be life-threatening". In Esfahan Province , prosecutor-general Mohammadreza Habibi warned that dissidents could face the death penalty under Islamic law. He also accused the protesters of being a "few elements controlled by foreigners [who were] disrupting security by inciting individuals to destroy and to commit arson" and urged them to stop their "criminal activities". It
10488-649: The rank of Brigadier. Additionally, 354 Afghan combatants had died who were fighting under the command of the IRGC, as part of the IRGC-equipped and trained Fatemiyoun Brigade , which is part of Hezbollah Afghanistan . Another 21 Pakistanis also died as part of the Zainabiyoun Brigade . The Afghan and Pakistani immigrants volunteered to go to Syria in exchange for salaries and citizenship. The Afghans were recruited largely from refugees inside Iran, and usually had combat experience before joining
10602-447: The rebels from killing many more among the Syrian people." Iranian Revolutionary Guard soldiers, along with fellow Shi'ite forces from Hezbollah and members of Iran's Basij militia participated in the capture of Qusair from rebel forces on 9 June 2013. In 2014, Iran increased its deployment of IRGC in Syria. By late 2015, 194 IRGC troops had been killed in Syria; almost all of these soldiers were officers, with several even reaching
10716-574: The regular forces in times of trouble. Though Ayatollah Khomeini and his successor Ayatollah Khamenei, claimed that this system was democratic and the Revolutionary guards are necessitated to protect the government from military coups and foreign interference, critics contend that this system only serves to keep like-minded conservatives in power and marginalize any opposition, while using the Revolutionary guards to silence any dissidents. The Islamic Republic has not escaped popular opposition in
10830-496: The result to the Guardian Council on 14 June . Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered an investigation into the claims of electoral fraud and irregularities, as requested by Green Movement leaders. Ahmadinejad called the election "completely free" and the outcome a "great victory" for Iran, dismissing the protests as akin to little more than "passions after a soccer match". Due to the sporadic cases of violence present at
10944-523: The speed of the militarized boats to 80-85 knots in the near future, and even up to 100 knots thereafter. These planned speed boats would most probably be named Seraj-2, Seraj-3 etc., since boats with that speed and the stability to carry weapons would depend on the Seraj-1 design. Defence minister Ahmad Vahidi has stated that "Seraj-1, with a fiberglass bodywork, can shoot rockets and it is equipped with an electronic navigation system." Seraj-1 also possesses radar-evading capabilities. The Seraj-1
11058-399: The streets to maintain law and order". While the death of Neda attracted widespread media attention, The Guardian is also maintaining a list of numerous other people who have ostensibly been either killed or arrested since the election. The government has issued very little official information on who has been killed or arrested (except Neda Agha-Soltan, whose video circulated quickly on
11172-410: The streets to protest. The next day, protests grew, as did violence. On the night of 14 June the pro-Ahmadinejad Basij paramilitary group raided Tehran University, injuring many. On 15 June millions of protesters marched on Azadi street and Mousavi made his first post-election appearance. On 16 June, protests continued, and the Guardian Council announced a partial recount would be conducted; however,
11286-554: The third (23 June), seventh (27 June), and 40th (30 July) day after a person's death may give the protests sustained momentum, similar in fashion to what occurred during the 1979 Iranian Revolution . Opposition leaders have claimed that the prisoners have been tortured and raped in prison. Opposition leaders and world leaders condemned the abuse. However, Iran's parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, denied that prisoners were abused. Former chairman of Iranian parliament Mehdi Karroubi stated that male and female prisoners have been raped in
11400-406: The three major challengers to meet to discuss their grievances. Several protesters supporting Moussavi swapped their green clothes for black attires in honor of protesters who died, according to CNN. On Friday, 19 June, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke during religious services, saying the election was legitimate and called the large voter turnout and resulting victory (for Ahmadinejad)
11514-469: The vessel. In January 2006, an IRGC Falcon crashed near Oroumieh , about 560 miles northwest of Tehran, near the Turkish border, Iranian media reported. All fifteen passengers died, including twelve senior IRGC commanders. Among the dead was General Ahmad Kazemi , the IRGC ground forces commander, and Iran–Iraq War veteran. Gen. Masoud Jazayeri, spokesman for the IRGC, told state radio that both of
11628-460: The vote was not annulled. On Wednesday 17 June another large protest occurred; some members of the Iranian national football team wore green wristbands in support of Mousavi during their game against South Korea. On Thursday, 18 June more than 100,000 protesters held a candlelight vigil in Tehran following Mousavi's call for a day of mourning for those killed in protests. The Guardian Council invited
11742-445: The votes were manipulated and the election was rigged. The last presidential election had already been controversial , but this time it escalated. Candidates Mohsen Rezaee and Mousavi have lodged official complaints. Mousavi announced that he "won't surrender to this manipulation" before lodging an official appeal against the result to the Guardian Council on 14 June. According to an analysis by Professor Walter R. Mebane Jr. from
11856-462: The west; however, in 2009, Iran managed to obtain one from a South African arms dealer. Iran created its militarized version of Bladerunner 51, named Seraj-1, in 2010. The designer of Bladerunner, Lorne Campbell, expressed his frustration that Iran had copied his design. Commander of IRGC Naval Force, Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said that the Seraj-1 will be mass-produced from March 2011 to March 2012. Fadavi has also announced that Iran's navy aims to increase
11970-534: The whole system, so everyone is loyal to him, He is hyperactive. He knows every low-ranking commander and even the names of their children'", according to Mehdi Khalaji of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The Basij and Pasdaran were instrumental in crushing the Green Movement , and this power gave them political supremecy in Iran. According to at least one source (Abbas Milani,
12084-474: The wounded or get any information from them." Hospital staff protested due to the restrictions. The government admitted to at least 27 fatalities in Tehran, while CNN and other news organizations reported 150 unconfirmed casualties from 20 June protests. International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran counted 34 of them, claiming to have eyewitness reports of much higher numbers. Human rights activists in Iran called for independently collecting information about
12198-627: Was "given control of Iran's ballistic missile program in both missile employment and development. Also contained under the umbrella of the more conventional Pasdaran, were the Basij Forces (Mobilization Resistance Force), a network of potentially up to a million active individuals who could be called upon in times of need. The Basij could be committed to assist in the defense of the country against internal or external threats, but by 2008 had also been deployed in mobilizing voters in elections and alleged tampering during such activities. Another element
12312-551: Was also arrested on that Tuesday according to Shirin Ebadi , who said that security officials had posed as clients. Over 100 students were arrested after security forces fired tear gas at protesters at Shiraz University on the same day. Reporters Without Borders reported that 5 of 11 arrested journalists were still in detention as of 16 June, and that a further 10 journalists were unaccounted for and may have been arrested. On 17 June, former foreign minister and Secretary-General of
12426-563: Was believed to be the primary force behind Iran's covert nuclear program for many decades. The New York Times reported that Israel's Mossad was behind that attack and that Mick Mulroy , the former Deputy Defense Secretary for the Middle East said the death of Fakhirizadeh was "a setback to Iran's nuclear program" and he was also a senior officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and that "will magnify Iran's desire to respond by force." The Corps have occasionally distributed food aid packages. In late July 2008, reports originating that
12540-403: Was formed on 5 May 1979 following the Iranian Revolution of 1979 in an effort to consolidate several paramilitary forces into a single force loyal to the new government and to function as a counter to the influence and power of the regular military, initially seen as a potential source of opposition because of its traditional loyalty to the Shah. From the beginning of the new Islamic government,
12654-445: Was later forced to confess in a series of trials for the detained protesters. On 22 June, The Guardian ' s live blog reported that at approximately 1:30 pm, General Ali Fazli, the newly appointed commander of the Revolutionary Guards in Tehran province, had been arrested for refusing to carry Khamenei's order to use force against demonstrators. On 11 August 2009, the Iranian government confirmed that 4,000 were detained in
12768-555: Was later released. Also arrested were Mostafa Tajzadeh and Mohsen Aminzadeh , whom the IRNA said were involved in orchestrating protests on 13 June. Unidentified sources said that the police stormed the headquarters of the IIPF and arrested a number of people. Iranian journalist Mashallah Shamsolvaezin claimed that presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi was put under house arrest, although officials denied this. An estimated 200 people were detained after clashes with students at
12882-480: Was not clear if his warning applied only to Isfahan or to the country as a whole. On 20 June, Committee to Protect Journalists reported that LIFE Magazine photographer Amir Sadeghi was arrested by Iranian authorities. According to a CPJ report, he was released from Evin Prison on 28 June. On 21 June, Iranian officials detained Iranian-born, Canadian citizen, and Newsweek journalist Maziar Bahari . He
12996-448: Was the Quds Force , a special forces element tasked with unconventional warfare roles and known to be involved in providing assistance and training to various militant organizations around the world. The Pasdaran is closely associated with Supreme Leader Khamenei who came to power in 1989, and used the Pasdaran to build support. Reportedly he reached "far down into the ranks and appointed new colonels and brigadiers. 'Khamenei micromanages
#36963