THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS CORPS

The Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (IRGC), while officially a branch of the Iranian military, has far reaching powers and functions within the Islamic Republic of Iran. The IRGC has a core responsibility of protecting the Islamic establishment, in addition to more traditional military functions such as border security, preventing foreign intrusions, and protection of the national command authorities—especially the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The IRGC is much more than a traditional military service, as Eliot Assoudeh denotes in this perceptive and very informative analysis (attached). Assoudeh demonstrates that the Guards not only rule over the conventional military, but have assumed many key economic and governmental functions in society. The Guards intervene in domestic as well as international affairs without much restriction, and are deeply involved in a wide range of economic activities. Its economic pursuits are so vast that it is regarded as the “third wealthiest organization” in Iran!

The IRGC performs many more ideologically oriented functions in Iranian affairs, including insuring the loyalty of the regular military. It has oversight of the intelligence organizations, maintains the long range missile stockpile, and supports Islamic causes abroad. In addition, it maintains its own ground, aerospace, and naval forces, as well as the paramilitary Basij militia. The Guards also have a primary responsibility to stifle domestic dissent.

In this regard, the future relationship between the Guards and the new Presidency of Rouhani will be of key importance. As Assoudeh notes, the IRGC has expressed strong criticism of the recent conversations that Rouhani had with President Barack Obama.

Iranian born Eliot Assoudeh provides the readers of this Forum with a most interesting overview of the founding and evolution of the Revolutionary Guards, with an emphasis on the expanded role the IRGC has taken in both domestic and foreign affairs. He examines the Guards’ influence in neighboring countries, some of that exercised through its elite Quds Force and its commander, General Soleimani. Now a PhD candidate at the University of Nevada-Reno, Eliot Assoudeh will be a welcome speaker at an upcoming Forum on this topic.

I am certain you enjoy his analysis!

–       Ty

CLICK HERE:  Assoudeh: Iranian Revolutionary Guards