Iran has launched a recruitment drive that reportedly targets boys as young as 12, offering military instruction that officials say will include training on drones, surveillance systems and weapons as Tehran seeks to expand its security forces.
Campaign and Officials: The New York Post reported the effort is part of a broader "janfada" or "self-sacrifice" campaign, which uses the slogan, "We have one life, and we give it for Iran." Campaign spokesman Sasan Zare told the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) that people aged 15 and older have already begun military training and that "special training appropriate for younger ages will also be arranged."
Scope of Training: Zare said the instruction will go beyond basic preparedness and will include "local security, general war preparations, observation, surveillance and intelligence measures." Reports also say the curriculum may teach participants to operate drones and to use shoulder‑fired weapons. The training is expected to be overseen by the Basij, the volunteer militia that operates under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Numbers and Uncertainties: According to campaign figures cited by Zare, some 31 million Iranians — roughly one‑third of the population — have registered for the wider Janfada campaign, with about 26% signing up for military or security roles. It remains unclear whether children who complete these courses would later be formally incorporated into Iran's security forces.
Human Rights Concerns: Human rights organizations have documented instances in which minors were deployed alongside Iranian forces at checkpoints and on patrols. Amnesty International reported that 11‑year‑old Alireza Jafari was killed in March while "serving" alongside his father at a checkpoint; the boy's mother said her husband cited a "shortage of personnel" before taking their sons to the post. Past statements from Revolutionary Guard officials have also suggested that children as young as 12 could volunteer for internal security duties.
Legal Context: International law prohibits conscripting or enlisting children under 15 into armed forces or groups, or using them to take part actively in hostilities. The reported recruitment drive has prompted concerns from rights advocates about the protection of children and possible violations of these standards.
What Remains Unknown: Independent verification of the new training program's scope and the number of minors involved is limited. Iranian authorities have not clarified whether trained youths would be given formal roles or remain in volunteer or auxiliary capacities.
Sources: The New York Post; Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA); Amnesty International.
