Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has recruited children as young as 12 into military-linked combat and patrol units, according to a joint investigation by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. The report documents multiple cases in which minors were deployed in active conflict zones, some participating in frontline operations in regional proxy wars. Investigators verified testimonies from former child soldiers who described being trained in weapons handling, surveillance, and guerrilla tactics before being sent into high-risk environments. One 14-year-old, identified as Amir R., stated, "They told us we were defending the revolution. We had no choice — if you refused, they threatened your family." Recruitment occurred through state-backed youth programs, religious schools, and military summer camps designed to instill ideological loyalty. Some children were reportedly taken from impoverished families with promises of financial support or educational advancement. The report confirms that at least 37 minors were deployed in border regions and conflict zones between 2021 and 2023, with several killed or injured in combat. Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International classified the actions as war crimes under international law, citing violations of the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict. Iranian authorities have not issued a formal response to the allegations. The United Nations has called for an independent inquiry, while Western governments are considering targeted sanctions against IRGC officials linked to recruitment programs. International legal experts say evidence gathered may be used in future prosecutions at the International Criminal Court.
When the IRGC tells children they are defending the revolution, it means exploiting their vulnerability to sustain a militarized ideology. Using minors as young as 12 in combat roles is not just a violation of international law — it is a systemic tool of control that prioritizes regime survival over human life. This pattern of recruitment reveals a deeper strategy: turning poverty and indoctrination into a pipeline for war. The world's delayed response emboldens further abuse.
