Iran Launches Volunteer Recruitment Drive Amid US Invasion Fears: Report

Tehran, April 1: Iran has launched a nationwide volunteer recruitment drive aimed at “defending the country’s soil,” with the government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) encouraging citizens, including children as young as 12, to join military and support roles, according to a report. The campaign comes amid heightened tensions with the United States, which has deployed additional troops to the region amid threats of a potential ground invasion.

According to the Financial Times, state television and mass text messages have urged Iranians to confront “the American-Zionist enemy’s threats against Iran’s shores, islands and borders,” though officials have provided no specific operational details. Iran Strikes Kuwait Airport, Targets Tanker Near Qatar as Tehran Comes Under Heavy Bombardment Ahead of Donald Trump Address.

Scope of the Recruitment Drive

The IRGC has invited volunteers to participate in a range of roles, including patrols, security checkpoints, medical aid, cooking, and financial contributions. While the online portal claimed over 5 million registrations, applicants were only required to submit a name, phone number, and province, making the numbers difficult to verify. Women are not conscripted under this drive.

Authorities have framed the drive as a patriotic call similar to mobilizations during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, but experts note that public support for the regime is far lower today. Sanam Vakil of Chatham House estimated that only around 20% of Iranians are active supporters of the current government. Donald Trump Signals Possible NATO Exit Amid Growing Rift With Allies Over Iran Conflict.

Controversy Over Child Recruitment

Human Rights Watch has condemned the campaign for enlisting children, warning of “serious risk of death and injury.” Iranian posters and recruitment messaging have shown boys and girls alongside adult volunteers, echoing historical wartime imagery, such as 1980s Basij child hero Mohammad Hossein Fahmideh.

Recent reports highlight cases like 11-year-old Alireza Jafari, killed in a drone strike while at a Basij checkpoint, underscoring concerns over child safety. HRW emphasized that under customary international law, recruiting children under 15 constitutes a war crime.

Reactions among Iranians have been mixed. Some citizens, like mechanic Hossein in western Tehran, expressed willingness to fight if US forces invade. Others, including architect Farshid, rejected participation, calling the campaign exploitative.

Despite the recruitment push, experts argue that the effort is more about demonstrating wartime resolve than achieving broad national unity. The IRGC has claimed that tens of thousands of enlistment requests have flooded their offices, though independent verification is not possible.

Escalating Tensions with the US

The recruitment drive coincides with a US military buildup in the region, including marines and paratroopers, as President Donald Trump weighs potential ground operations. Iran has responded to previous US and Israeli strikes with retaliatory attacks on military, shipping, and infrastructure targets.

Officials have stated readiness for a ground conflict but also highlighted public reluctance to volunteer under the current regime. Reports of violent crackdowns on anti-regime protests earlier this year, including in Tehran, have fueled mistrust among citizens toward government-led mobilization efforts.

Analysts note that while the campaign evokes historical wartime mobilizations, it faces challenges given the smaller base of regime supporters today. The recruitment drive may serve primarily as a demonstration of the government’s capacity to rally loyalists rather than a true operational manpower increase.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 01, 2026 07:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).