Tehran rally draws hundreds of thousands as Iran unveils new volunteer force

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in a government-organised rally in Tehran, where Iran presented a newly formed volunteer force linked to defence and emergency response preparations. Authorities said the mobilisation was part of a broader show of readiness as the country braces for the possibility of conflict. The event took place in downtown Tehran and featured participants in combat uniforms, alongside flags, weapons, drones and anti-aircraft batteries.

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Iranian authorities said 313,000 people joined the rally in the capital. Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief, Hassan Hassanzadeh, said more than 600,000 people had registered for the voluntary Janfada-ye-Iran campaign, which roughly translates as "Those who sacrifice their lives for Iran." He said more than one million people were expected to take part in the training. Officials said the new force would receive limited military and emergency response training and act as an additional layer of security for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Basij militia.

Senior Iranian figures attended the event, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Basij head Hossein Taeb. Taeb told participants that the volunteers would be ready for "full-fledged defence" and would be a "nightmare" for Iran's enemies. Women and teenagers were also reported to have registered with the volunteer units.

One volunteer said the aim was to show that Iran was strong and united, while another said the country would not allow others to decide its future. The rally matters because it combines public mobilisation with a visible defence message at a time when Iranian authorities say they are preparing for possible conflict. The display of military hardware and the scale of the turnout were intended to signal cohesion and deterrence.

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It also underlines the role of the IRGC and the Basij in Iran's internal security and mobilisation strategy, both of which have long been central to the state's response to external pressure and domestic unrest. The Janfada-ye-Iran campaign appears to be the latest expression of that approach, with authorities framing volunteer participation as a national duty. The event was presented as a demonstration of solidarity and readiness rather than a conventional military parade.

Reporting from the rally indicated that the government wanted to show that large numbers of people were prepared to support the state in a crisis. What remains unclear is how many of those who registered will complete the training and what practical role the new volunteer force will play. Attendance figures could not be independently verified, and officials did not provide a detailed timetable for the programme.

The next developments to watch are whether the campaign expands beyond Tehran and whether Iranian authorities give further details on the force's structure, training and deployment.

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