Edward Marchesi Amid the conflict with the United States and Israel, Iranian authorities have launched a vast civilian recruitment operation called Janfada , which literally means "those who sacrifice themselves for their lives." Launched in late March, the campaign aims to train volunteers—men, women, and teenagers—ready to join the ranks of the state security forces, against both internal and external threats.
Nationwide network of training centers and training centers
Basij forces , an arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ), have set up stands and posts in numerous cities, from major cities like Tehran and Isfahan to smaller bases in Zanjan, Shiraz, Kerman, Mashhad, Boynord, and Ahvaz. According to Ali Kowsari, deputy head of training for the Basij, the goal is to occupy at least one to three major squares in each of the 31 provinces, with a minimum of fourteen squares in Tehran.
These areas serve as training centers, equipment displays, and registration points for volunteers.
Training activities and reactions in the territory
At the recruitment stations, practical exercises are held, including the use of pistols, assault rifles, and magazines, as well as live ammunition loading demonstrations. Some residents describe the evenings as veritable spectacles, where "revolutionary songs are played, the sound of weapons is heard, and sometimes small competitions are held to win prizes."
In Gilan, for example, a resident reported regularly seeing stalls in neighborhoods, mostly run by elderly men, and feeling disturbed by the noise and traffic obstruction. On October 15, in Rasht, protests against the noise escalated into a brawl, documented in videos on social media. In the same region, in Karaj (Alborz Province), authorities warned residents of the impending use of explosives and loud noises during drills.
Involving schools and young people
The Ministry of Education, led by Alireza Kazemi, announced that the Basij is registering "Janfada students" in schools, planning further ceremonies and mobilization activities for young people in the coming weeks. The school recruitment is part of a broader government effort to demonstrate that "the people support the Islamic Republic and the revolution."
Reported numbers, discrepancies, and international criticism
The campaign's official website reports over 33 million registered users, a figure corresponding to more than a third of the total population and more than half of citizens over the age of 12. However, independent analyses of the site's source code have found fewer than four million actual registrations, requiring only a telephone number and not the need to provide a national tax code. Authorities have defended the campaign, stating that volunteers could be deployed in future relief operations, social services, media support, and even to reduce the consumption of resources such as fuel and energy, to alleviate the pressure of sanctions.
Human rights organizations abroad have called these actions "campaigns of intimidation," accusing the government of exploiting tensions following the January protests, in which thousands of demonstrators were killed. The government, for its part, describes the protests as coup attempts orchestrated by the United States and Israel and rejects the findings of a United Nations fact-finding mission, which had denounced crimes against humanity.
According to Professor Mehran Kamrava of Georgetown University in Qatar, the ongoing war has opened new opportunities for the most revolutionary elements in Iranian politics. Citing the saying, "Revolutions are like riding a bicycle: to avoid falling, you have to pedal hard," he suggests that the Janfada mobilization serves to maintain the relevance of these groups, reinforcing their attitude of siege and ideological loyalty to the revolution.