Iran putting children as young as 12 on checkpoints — media
The IRGC claims many teenagers want to serve at checkpoints (photo: Getty Images)
Iranian security forces are recruiting children as young as 12 to guard checkpoints and other sites across Tehran, the Alarabiya English reports.
According to the media, after the outbreak of the war, checkpoints appeared across Tehran, some of which are now manned by armed teenagers.
The phenomenon stems from a government campaign called "For Iran," aimed at enlisting volunteers into the security forces. The minimum recruitment age has reportedly been lowered to 12.
Rahim Nadali, a representative of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Tehran, publicly stated that individuals aged 12 and older can register to assist the IRGC and the youth volunteer militia, the Basij, in countering the "global bully" (a term used for the United States).
He said recruits are tasked with "collecting security data and operational patrols," and organizing night convoys in the city.
"At the Basij checkpoints and patrols that you see across the cities, we had a very high number of volunteers among young people and teenagers who wanted to participate. Considering the ages of those requesting to join, we have now lowered the minimum age to 12 years old, because children aged 12–13 want to be involved," Nadali said.
Residents of Tehran told AFP that since the start of the war with the United States and Israel, they have seen armed young people in the streets.
"Military pickup trucks with heavy weapons mounted on them block the roads and search cars. You pass them, and just 100 meters ahead, there are several private cars with teenagers holding Uzis (sub-machine guns), again stopping vehicles," a local resident said.
He added that when a missile hits any location, the area is immediately cordoned off, with Kalashnikov-wielding teens shouting orders and regularly firing warning shots into the air.
Another resident said that at night, regime supporters "take cars fitted with speakerphones and they give them flags and they march with lots of noise and shout slogans in the streets."
Middle East war
Despite hopes for a quick resolution in the Middle East, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said fighting between the United States and Iran could continue for at least another 2–4 weeks.
Meanwhile, Uganda has unexpectedly expressed a desire to join the war against Iran on Israel's side, claiming that a single brigade would be enough to capture the country.
Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen have already joined the war, announcing their first attack on Israel since the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East.
