Tehran, Mar 31: Iran is facing growing international concern following reports that children are being recruited into security roles amid ongoing wartime pressures, according to information gathered by BBC News and corroborated by eyewitness accounts and rights groups.
The issue has drawn particular attention after the reported death of 11-year-old Alireza Jafari, who was allegedly killed alongside his father while assisting at a security checkpoint in Tehran earlier this month. The incident has intensified scrutiny over the possible involvement of minors in frontline or support roles.
According to accounts cited by the BBC, Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is linked to a new initiative aimed at expanding volunteer recruitment. The programme, described as “Homeland Defender Fighters for Iran,” is said to include individuals aged 12 and above for duties such as patrols and checkpoint monitoring.
Officials have reportedly pointed to manpower shortages as a key reason behind the move, with recruitment efforts taking place through mosques and public gatherings associated with the Basij, a paramilitary force under IRGC control.
Eyewitnesses quoted by the BBC described seeing teenagers, some carrying weapons, stationed at checkpoints in Tehran and other cities. One witness recounted seeing a “short and slight” boy holding a firearm and stopping vehicles, while others said it was “obvious” that some personnel were underage, expressing both fear and sympathy.
The reported death of Jafari has added a human dimension to the controversy. His mother stated that his father had taken him along due to a lack of personnel at the checkpoint, where “only four people” were present. The boy was quoted as expressing a willingness to become a “martyr,” reflecting the intense wartime rhetoric surrounding the conflict. Iranian media suggested the pair were killed in a suspected Israeli drone strike, although this claim has not been independently verified.
The Basij militia, estimated to have around one million members, has historically been deployed for internal security and crowd control. Israel has recently stated that it has targeted several such checkpoints, adding to the volatile security environment.
International human rights organisations have strongly condemned the reported recruitment of minors. Human Rights Watch described the practice as a “grave violation of children’s rights,” noting that the use of children under 15 in military or شبه-military roles may constitute a war crime under international law.
Legal experts also warned of broader societal risks. The deployment of untrained minors in high-pressure security situations could lead to unintended escalation of violence and increased danger for civilians.
Analysts suggest that the alleged use of children reflects mounting pressure on Iran’s internal security apparatus and potential difficulties in recruiting adult personnel. The development, if confirmed, could further impact Iran’s international standing and raise serious ethical and humanitarian concerns.
