According to state media reports on September 18, 2026, thousands of civilians participated in a state-organized “military exercise” and parade in Tehran for the “Janfada” mobilization campaign. The mobilization drive, which translates to “those who sacrifice their life,” was first unveiled by the Islamic Republic in late March at the peak of the war with the United States and Israel to train and arm volunteer civilians under the Basij militia arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Registration Figures and Public Claims
Hassan Hassanzadeh, head of the IRGC in Tehran, told state broadcaster IRIB that more than 600,000 people registered on a website this week for the active mobilization part of the campaign. Officials projected an enrollment exceeding one million individuals, noting that 1,000 “battalions” had already been established. Ahead of Friday’s proceedings, organizers designated it as a 313,000-person march, drawing upon the Twelver Shia concept where 313 signifies the principal companions of Mahdi, the messianic hidden imam.
The campaign previously drew controversy in late March when authorities claimed that more than 31 million people—representing over a third of Iran’s total population—had registered. Foreign-based activists who accessed the website’s source code found that fewer than four million people had registered, noting that the registry required only a phone number without a national identification number. Following the controversy, the registration ticker slowed down, but IRGC’s Hassanzadeh claimed on Friday that 33 million people are now registered. Authorities have not released documentation to back these figures.
Did You Know? Authorities invoked the number 313 ahead of the Friday march, highlighting its prominent role in Twelver Shia beliefs as representing the core companions of Mahdi, the messianic hidden imam destined to return near the end times to bring about justice.
Economic Challenges and Civilian Involvement
The mobilization effort is not exclusively military. Organizers stated that 26 percent of registrants selected military and security work, while other categories included rescue, social services, media, and financial support. During Friday’s parade, President Masoud Pezeshkian asked volunteers to tangibly help his administration by consuming less fuel, electricity, and other resources amid energy imbalances and wider economic turmoil. Earlier this month, the government increased fuel prices and limited petrol quotas for personal vehicles to battle a budget crunch and fuel production shortfalls related to the war. Households and industries have also faced intermittent power blackouts throughout the summer, with natural gas shortages expected in the upcoming cold season.
The latest display in Tehran featured children and teenagers, some of whom were shown wielding assault rifles and other weapons during Friday’s military exercise. Speaking to the state-affiliated Iranian Labour News Agency on Saturday, Janfada campaign spokesman Sasan Zare announced that registration has been opened to boys aged 15 and older, with subsequent recruitment efforts planned for those under 15. Women also featured heavily during the display, with chador-clad volunteers wielding weapons on the streets and riding motorcycles despite women being officially banned from doing so in civilian life.
Expert Insight: Ali Alfoneh, a senior fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute, shared with Al Jazeera his perspective that the Janfada campaign aims to revamp the Basij militia—an organization closely linked to domestic coercion and the violent suppression of dissent following the conclusion of the 1988 Iran-Iraq war—to prepare for potential internal and external challenges ahead.
Geopolitical Tensions and Domestic Context
Friday’s parade displayed Iranian military hardware used in the war against the US and Israel. The events unfold as Iran and the US clash over the future of the Strait of Hormuz and the outcome of the war, while the US continues a naval blockade of southern ports and intensifies sanctions. In remarks to Al Jazeera, Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei stated that seven distinct conditions for negotiations had been communicated to Washington through intermediaries, while military commanders remained fully prepared to resume hostilities.
The campaign follows nationwide protests in January that resulted in thousands of deaths, which Iranian authorities described as a “coup” orchestrated by the US and Israel. A United Nations fact-finding mission alleged on Friday that the Islamic Republic committed crimes against humanity during the protest crackdowns, and Amnesty International released a report identifying dozens of senior authorities engaged in crimes against humanity during the 2022-23 protests over the death of Mahsa Amini. Iranian authorities have repeatedly warned against more public protests, emphasizing that acts undermining national security and social cohesion are forbidden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Janfada campaign?
The Janfada, or “those who sacrifice their life,” campaign is a public messaging and mobilization drive launched by Iranian authorities in late March to train and arm volunteer civilians under the Basij militia arm of the IRGC.
How many people have registered for the campaign according to officials?
IRGC Tehran head Hassan Hassanzadeh stated that more than 600,000 people registered on a website in a single week, and later claimed that 33 million people are registered, though authorities have not provided documentation to back these figures.
What economic appeals were made to volunteers during the parade?
President Masoud Pezeshkian asked volunteers during Friday’s parade to help the administration by consuming less fuel, electricity, and other resources amid ongoing energy imbalances, budget crunches, and fuel price increases.
?How do you think the ongoing economic pressures and regional tensions will shape the future role of civilian volunteers in Iran?