Iran’s Shocking New Recruitment Program for 12-Year-Olds

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has sparked international outrage by launching a new recruitment initiative titled “For Iranians,” which specifically targets children as young as 12 to support military operations. Amid the escalating regional conflict in early 2026, the program seeks to integrate teenagers into active war-related activities, including intelligence patrols, staffing Basij paramilitary checkpoints, and providing logistical support to the wounded. This policy shift represents a significant departure from standard military protocols and has been widely condemned by human rights organizations as a violation of international laws that strictly prohibit the involvement of minors in military or combat-adjacent roles. As the war intensifies, the use of such young volunteers suggests a growing pressure on Iran’s conventional forces and a controversial move toward total mobilization.