Iran Opens War Volunteer Scheme To Children As Young As 12 –Report

The report stated that individuals aged 12 and above are eligible to enlist in the scheme.

Authorities in Iran have come under scrutiny after reportedly launching a controversial volunteer mobilization campaign that allows children as young as 12 to participate in activities tied to national security and wartime support.

Media outlets linked to the country’s security establishment reported that the initiative, unveiled in Tehran, is being coordinated by the paramilitary Basij under the banner “Homeland Defender Fighters for Iran,” and promoted with the slogan “For Iran,” according to CNN.

According to Defa Press, a platform affiliated with Iran’s armed forces, the programme seeks to mobilize civilians for a range of roles including defence-related duties, logistical operations, and humanitarian support.

However, the inclusion of minors in the recruitment pool has raised alarm among observers.

The report stated that individuals aged 12 and above are eligible to enlist in the scheme.

Further details contained in a video circulated by Tasnim News Agency, drawing from a broadcast by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, outlined potential assignments for volunteers.

These include “intelligence patrols,” operational patrols, and checkpoint duties, roles that suggest possible involvement in surveillance and local security enforcement.

Critics say such responsibilities blur the line between civilian support and active participation in security operations, especially for underage recruits.

The mobilization drive comes amid the escalating war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has entered a dangerous new phase marked by direct military exchanges and regional instability.

The war, which escalated following a series of retaliatory strikes between Israeli and Iranian forces, reportedly backed by U.S. military support, has seen missile attacks, cyber warfare, and proxy battles spread across the Middle East.

Key flashpoints include Syria, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf, where allied militias and naval forces have clashed.

Washington has justified its involvement as part of efforts to curb Iran’s military capabilities and regional influence, while Tehran has framed the conflict as a defence of its sovereignty against what it describes as Western and Israeli aggression.

The growing intensity of the war has prompted fears of a broader regional conflagration, with civilian populations increasingly affected by displacement, economic hardship, and security crackdowns.

Iran has a long history of relying on mass volunteer forces during periods of conflict.

The Basij, which operates under the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, played a significant role during the Iran–Iraq War, where large numbers of civilians, including youths, were mobilized for frontline and support operations.

Since then, the Basij has remained a key instrument for internal security, often deployed to quell protests and enforce state directives.

Analysts warn that the new campaign signals a potential expansion of these mobilization tactics at a time when tensions are already dangerously high, raising ethical and legal concerns over the recruitment of minors into activities linked to armed conflict.