Iran expands Janfada civilian militia drive amid looming US-Israel conflict

Iran’s “Janfada” mobilisation, meaning “those who sacrifice their life,” began in late March at the height of the conflict with the United States and Israel and has since spread to most of the country’s 31 provinces. Basij representatives and other security agencies run street stations where volunteers receive weapons instruction and are urged to defend the revolutionary system. Deputy training chief Ali Kowsari said at least 14 Tehran squares will serve as equipment hubs, and similar sites are planned in each provincial capital.

Citizens in Gilan and other regions describe nightly drills, prize contests and loud revolutionary music, sometimes sparking local confrontations. The government reports 33 million sign-ups, though independent analysis suggests fewer than four million. Critics label the armed mobilisation as intimidation following the January protests, while scholars argue it reinforces the regime’s ideological grip. Education Minister Alireza Kazemi announced plans to involve schoolchildren in upcoming ceremonies.