Iran Guards Enlist Children as Young as 12 and Send Them to the War Front Lines

(SeaPRwire) –   Recent reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch indicate that Iran is intensifying its efforts to enlist children as young as 12 into military positions associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

These findings highlight the increasing strain on Iran’s military operations. Experts and rights organizations suggest that the use of child recruits reflects a deficit in manpower amid escalating strikes from Israel and the U.S. This strategy not only raises the human toll of the conflict but also exposes the Iranian government to potential war crime charges.

According to Human Rights Watch, the IRGC has initiated a recruitment drive titled “Homeland Defending Combatants for Iran.” This program has reduced the minimum age for enlistment to 12, targeting minors through local mosques and the Basij, a paramilitary volunteer wing of the IRGC.

These young recruits are being assigned to high-risk tasks such as intelligence gathering, manning checkpoints, and conducting operational patrols, placing them in the line of fire as domestic hostilities grow.

Amnesty International emphasized that the enlistment and use of children under the age of 15 in conflict is a “war crime,” supporting its claims with verified accounts and visual documentation.

The organization reviewed 16 pieces of media showing minors armed with AK-style rifles participating in state rallies, patrols, and checkpoint duties alongside IRGC and Basij members in cities like Kermanshah, Mashhad, and Tehran.

Amnesty also reported the death of 11-year-old Alireza Jafari, who was killed at a checkpoint during an Israeli drone strike while accompanying his father, a member of the Basij. Official statements claimed he died “while serving.”

The boy’s mother informed the newspaper Hamshahri that her husband brought their sons to the checkpoint due to a lack of available personnel. She noted that her husband told their son to prepare for the future, mentioning that teenagers aged 15 and 16 are frequently assigned to such duties.

Witnesses cited by Amnesty described seeing children who appeared physically overwhelmed by their equipment. One observer in Tehran noted a child around 15 years old who seemed to be struggling to breathe while carrying a heavy firearm.

Reports from Karaj and Rasht also mentioned children as young as 13 carrying Kalashnikovs, with one witness expressing concern that the minors might fire their weapons indiscriminately.

One specific video from March 30 in Mashhad depicted two masked children in Basij attire holding assault rifles on a moving vehicle during a government-sponsored event.

The recruitment effort is being publicized through official media, including posters featuring children and armed adults with the slogan “Basij with people, for people,” alongside quotes from Iran’s Supreme Leader emphasizing the Basij’s role in the revolution.

In response, Iranian officials have justified the recruitment by claiming there is significant interest among the youth.

Rahim Nadali, an IRGC official, stated on state television that the age limit was lowered to 12 because of the high volume of teenagers expressing a desire to participate.

“There is no excuse for a military recruitment drive that targets children to sign up, much less 12-year-olds,” stated Bill Van Esveld of Human Rights Watch.

These reports surface as the UN continues to categorize child recruitment in war as a “grave violation.” International standards generally set 18 as the minimum age for combat, while enlisting anyone under 15 is strictly prohibited.

Both human rights groups have demanded that Iran cease the recruitment of minors immediately and discharge those currently in service.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not provide a comment when contacted.