Overview
- State-organized events in Tehran on Friday drew what officials called hundreds of thousands of people who pledged to join 'Janfaday-e Iran' and receive limited military training to serve alongside the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Basij militia.
- Tehran’s IRGC commander reported more than 600,000 registered and said over 1 million could take part in training, while state broadcasters put crowd size during the rally at roughly 300,000; independent verification of these figures is lacking.
- The rally included public displays of military hardware — drones, anti-aircraft batteries and truck-mounted guns — and speeches from Basij chief Hossein Taeb urging volunteers to prepare for “full‑fledged defense.”
- Officials framed the drive as a response to US and Israeli strikes, a US naval blockade and new sanctions that have increased economic pressure on Iran, and analysts say the campaign also strengthens hardliners’ capacity to deter or suppress domestic protests.
- The mobilisation follows earlier government claims of millions registering since April and comes against a backdrop of large pre-war protests and a security crackdown that critics say left thousands dead and thousands detained.