Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), known as “Pasdaran” in Persian, is the ideological military force of the Islamic Republic, operating parallel to the traditional army and answering directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Western nations have accused the IRGC of organizing and executing the suppression of recent protests within the country.
Origins and Structure
The IRGC was established in 1979 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to protect the principles of the Islamic revolution. According to Clement Therme, a researcher at the International Institute of Iranian Studies, it is “an army of 150,000 to 180,000 people in service of an ideology.” A Western diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity estimated its membership to be around 200,000.
This force functions as an elite military with its own terrestrial, maritime, and aerospace capabilities. It is widely considered to be better trained, equipped, and paid than the regular army. The IRGC also manages Iran’s network of regional allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and various militias in Iraq. Its leadership is appointed solely by the Supreme Leader. In June of last year, Khamenei appointed Mohammad Pakpour to lead the force after his predecessor, Hossein Salami, was killed on the first day of the recent conflict with Israel. Pakpour is a veteran of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.
Economic Influence
David Khalfa, a researcher at the Jean-Jaures Foundation, describes the IRGC as “an empire within an empire.” The Guards control or own a vast network of companies across major sectors of the Iranian economy, including infrastructure, energy, technology, telecommunications, and finance, giving them near-monopolistic control. According to data compiled by Khalfa, the IRGC’s annual military budget is estimated to be between $6 billion and $9 billion, constituting approximately 40 percent of Iran’s official military spending.
Intelligence and Internal Control
The IRGC commands a vast and effective intelligence network, which has previously demonstrated the ability to swiftly dismantle protest movements and identify their leaders.
For internal enforcement, the Guards rely on the Basij, a paramilitary volunteer force recruited primarily from young Iranians. The Basij functions as an ideological organization present across all levels of Iranian society and institutions. Estimates from several US think tanks, cross-referenced by Khalfa, place the number of Basij members between 600,000 and 900,000.
Role in Suppressing Protests
According to Khalfa, the IRGC plays a “central role in the repression” of protests, viewing its mission as essential to the survival of the regime. “They have a set political and operational line regarding the protests which is zero tolerance,” he stated.
The Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights has reported that at least 734 people have been killed during the recent protests, while warning the actual number is likely much higher. Experts suggest that at the beginning of the demonstrations, the IRGC may have relied on local security forces and the Basij. However, as the protests continued, the Guards reportedly deployed their ground forces and special units directly. Therme noted that Guards members often operate in civilian clothing to conceal their involvement in human rights violations.
International Designation
In 2019, the United States officially designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization. In November 2024, Australia designated it a state sponsor of terrorism, linking it to two arson attacks on its Jewish community earlier that year. European officials have also called for the IRGC to be listed as a terrorist group. A diplomatic source indicated that Germany supports listing the Quds Force, the IRGC’s elite overseas unit, which it has connected to a 2021 attack on a German synagogue.
