Iran Mobilizes Million Citizens in Military Training Drive

Iran is executing a sweeping mass mobilization of civilians, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps advancing a plan to establish 1,000 "national resistance" battalions and provide participants with military training.

The initiative operates under the "Janfada" campaign, meaning "those who sacrifice their lives for Iran", which began as a volunteer recruitment drive. According to Iranian reports, authorities have started organizing volunteers into structured units and putting them through military drills.

1,000 battalions, hundreds of thousands of volunteers: Iran enters mass mobilization mode (Photo: Arab networks)

Training commenced in Tehran on September 19. Iran-Wire reports the plan calls for gradual expansion to additional provinces across the country. The instruction covers preparation for wartime scenarios, neighborhood security operations, and various military skills.

The effort gained public visibility on September 18, when hundreds of thousands participated in a mass gathering in Tehran as part of the campaign. The Revolutionary Guards claimed more than 600,000 people registered for military training and set a goal of surpassing one million, though these figures have not been independently verified.

Iranian authorities present the mobilization as part of preparations to defend the nation, while other reports suggest the new apparatus could also serve security forces in the event of domestic unrest.

Tehran now seeks to create a broad network of trained civilians alongside the regular army and the Basij paramilitary force. The first phase involves establishing 1,000 battalions in the capital, with plans to expand the program throughout Iran.