IRGC Lowers Recruitment Age to 12, Deploys Children to Tehran Checkpoints

The IRGC has publicly lowered the minimum age for war-related support roles to 12, widening participation in security tasks inside Tehran.

“Iran Lowers Minimum Age for War Roles to 12, Sparking Outcry Over Child Soldier Use Error: Contact form not found”

Algemeiner

State media describe a program named 'For Iran' or 'Homeland Defenders of Iran' under which 12- and 13-year-olds can take part in patrols, checkpoints and logistics.

Algemeiner

Iranian officials quoted Rahim Nadali say 'we lowered the minimum age to 12' due to the drop in applicants.

Outlets frame this as a recruitment plan amid the broader US-Israeli war, with reports of young volunteers operating Basij checkpoints.

Western and non-Western outlets corroborate the claim across multiple languages and contexts.

Rights advocates point to international law that bars the recruitment of children for military activities, arguing the policy violates the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Algemeiner notes that the move 'would fuel concerns of human rights groups' about Iran's treatment of children.

Egyptian Gazette

Iran International cites the treaty provision that 'the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits the use of children in military activities.'

The Egyptian Gazette reiterates Iran's commitments under the Convention, describing the move as conflicting with those obligations.

The program described is 'For Iran' and 'Homeland Defenders of Iran' and includes roles such as patrols, checkpoints, logistics.

“Iran prepares to turn the island of Jark into a bloodbath and to take American soldiers hostage”

El Mundo

12- and 13-year-olds could participate, according to state media and officials quoted by multiple outlets.

Rahim Nadali said the age was lowered because the age of volunteers had dropped and they wanted to take part.

The plan is embedded in Tehran’s security framework and is presented as a structured support role rather than vague participation.

Outlets emphasize the operational scope—patrols, checkpoints and logistics—within the Basij and IRGC security architecture.

Experts warn the policy risks genuine child-soldier dynamics and undermines child rights.

Iran International cites the Center for Human Rights in Iran: more than 200 children were killed during the early-2026 protests.

Ynetnews

Human rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented abuses of minors during demonstrations and security crackdowns.

Observers warn of backlash both domestically and internationally as security measures intensify.

The IRGC’s policy shift signals a formal, state-backed move to mobilize minors for security work.

“The Iranian opposition outlet Iran International reported Thursday that an official in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the minimum age for noncombat support roles has been lowered to 12, allowing children to join the war effort”

Ynetnews

Rights-focused outlets emphasize the legal and ethical implications under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

ایران اینترنشنال

Regional and Western outlets alike describe patrols, checkpoints and logistics as the core tasks now open to 12-year-olds.

This is presented as part of a broader manpower strategy in the ongoing West Asia conflict.