Minors serving in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Basij forces. Credit: Iran International.
( Mar. 28, 2026 / Israel Hayom )
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has lowered the minimum age for participation in war-support roles to 12, a senior official acknowledged on state television, in remarks cited by the Iran International news channel.
Rahim Nadali, a cultural official in the IRGC’s Tehran branch, said an initiative called “For Iran” has been recruiting participants to assist in activities such as patrols, checkpoints and logistics. According to him, most of the minors being recruited are being directed to the Basij paramilitary militia, which is responsible for suppressing opposition to the regime.
“Given that the age of those coming forward has dropped and they are requesting to participate, we lowered the minimum age to 12,” he said, adding that children aged 12 and 13 can now join. The remarks were broadcast as part of state media coverage of the war effort.
The move comes despite Iran’s commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits the use of children in military activities.
The elimination of Basij personnel in Tehran. Credit: IDF.
For weeks, the U.S. and Israeli air forces have been targeting Basij personnel, who have suffered heavy casualties. Morale among Basij gunmen has plummeted, driven by fear of strikes on checkpoints and headquarters, with many forced to sleep in streets and mosques. Videos circulating on Iranian social media show Basij members fleeing in panic after civilians play drone sounds through their mobile phones.
Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
canisgallicus 