Iran’s Armed Forces and IRGC: Beacons of Hope or Global Threats?

irgc armored vehicle
Written by
Shahriar Kia

On April 18, the Iranian regime’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, spoke at a military parade during the so-called “Army Day.” In his litany of lies, Raisi praised the regime’s armed forces, which are notorious domestically for their terrorist activities. Be it the crackdown on the civilian population and protests, arresting dissidents, torturing or executing them, dispatching forces to foreign countries, and running militia networks around the Middle East, the clerical regime uses everyone that serves its flag.

“The coordination and brotherhood between the IRGC and army are exemplary. Iran’s armed forces have many capabilities. Our armed forces are the beacon of hope for the oppressed around the globe,” Raisi claimed, according to the state-run Eghtesad News on Tuesday.

From Tehran to Baghdad and to Damascus, the destruction and bloodbath created by the regime’s armed forces, mainly the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and its Quds Force, is appalling.

Gunning down over 1,500 protesters in November 2019 in Iran, killing hundreds of thousands of Syrians and displacing millions of others, instigating a sectarian war in Iraq, and engaging in terrorism in Lebanon and Yemen are but a glimpse of how the regime’s armed forces have wreaked havoc across the region.

Yet, Raisi blatantly claimed, “The presence of our armed forces creates security and stability for the region. The message of this presence and the army day is peace and friendship for the countries in the region. Our armed forces will always ensure your security, well-being, and peaceful lives.”

It is worth noting that since the 1979 anti-monarchial revolution, commanders of the regime’s army are high-ranking IRGC officials and the army not only logistically supports the IRGC and its Quds force, but it has operated under the Quds Force command in places such as Syria.

On September 18, 2020, Abdolali Poushashp, a high-ranking Army officer, told the state-run Mashreqnews that “the army operated in Syria under the Quds Force command.”

How the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps IRGC plunders Iran’s economy
“The IRGC and Quds Force had some needs that the army addressed. We fixed airplanes and provided logistics. The army also provided artillery support and sent soldiers to fight, including rangers. At least ten army commanders were killed in Syria,” he said.

Founded on April 22, 1979, the IRGC has been the regime’s primary force of oppression and export of terrorism abroad. The IRGC is tasked to “preserve the revolution and its values,” or simply to keep the clerical regime in power. The regime’s founder once said: “If the IRGC is gone, the whole country will be lost.”

The terrorist entity gained notoriety for oppressing dissidents in the 1980s and during the Iran-Iraq war, where it assumed authority over all military personnel and logistics. The IRGC’s actions helped to extend the unpatriotic war, and they even resorted to using children as cannon fodder to clear minefields.

The IRGC’s hierarchy is headed by the Commander-in-Chief, followed by the Deputy Chief of Staff and the Joint Chiefs of Staff or Deputy Coordinator. The Five Forces Command, including Ground Forces, Navy, Air Forces, Basij Militias, and Quds Force, form the lowest level of the chain of command. The Quds Force’s primary role is to spread terrorism abroad by providing training and financing to groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.

It has also been involved in domestic violence during crises such as the November 2019 uprising. The IRGC’s “Intelligence Organization” also employs the Basij paramilitary force to collect intelligence and conduct surveillance, targeting dissidents. The IRGC’s commander-in-chief and other top leaders are appointed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and operate under his direct supervision, making the IRGC his personal army.

The entity also controls Iran’s economy and has many official and unofficial income streams. The IRGC receives a significant portion of the country’s budget. Besides, it dominates the economy through its financial institutions and hundreds of so-called “private” companies.

In 2006, Khamenei issued a directive to restructure Iran’s economy around the IRGC and Basij cooperatives and foundations, particularly the so-called IRGC’s “Setad.” Two years later, reforms to the banking system transformed Iran’s banks into conduits for the Supreme Leader’s businesses. IRGC affiliates and Khamenei’s inner circle gained access to low-interest loans, resulting in a financial debacle. The impact was felt across the country as the financial system began to falter and fail under the weight of corruption and cronyism.

Corruption eats Iran’s IRGC from within
In his remarks on Tuesday, Raisi announced, “Today, the government vows and pledges to support and arm the armed forces and pay attention to their needs.”

Although the IRGC is an oppressive force, it has managed to monopolize Iran’s economy in order to bankroll its nefarious activities, thereby becoming the most significant obstacle to the country’s economic growth and development.

While the regime blames Iran’s economic woes on international sanctions, the root causes of the nation’s long-standing economic malaise lie in deep-seated and systemic problems related to the despotic regime’s sociopolitical foundations. Despite facing considerable opposition at home, the regime doggedly pursues its own survival, with a legitimacy perpetually challenged by a populace who are largely excluded from political representation and economic prosperity, as exemplified by the nationwide protests of 2018 and 2019.

The recent uprising in Iran has undoubtedly exposed the regime’s vulnerability and made one thing clear: regime change is an inevitable reality. Despite the IRGC’s ruthless slaughter of innocent Iranians, some media personalities-turned-activists continue to espouse the IRGC’s supposed role as a positive force for change. These efforts only serve to legitimize the IRGC and enable the regime to continue its crimes.

The IRGC is the crux of the despotic regime’s grip on power, and its survival is intrinsically linked to the continuation of the theocracy. Contrary to some delusional claims, IRGC members cannot simply “join the people” and “abandon the sinking ship” while retaining their privileged status, uniforms, and weapons. The IRGC’s ironclad control over Iran’s strategic sectors, such as oil, banking, and construction, allows the ruling elite to maintain their grip on power while the people suffer under their repressive rule.

The international community must step up its efforts to support the Iranian people in their struggle for liberty by applying more pressure on the IRGC. Instead of engaging in fruitless negotiations and offering incentive packages, European countries must blacklist this terrorist organization. The IRGC is exploiting these concessions to sustain its existence and prolong the suffering of the Iranian people.