The troops in the Iranian Army (Artesh) believe that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) soldiers are mistreating them, refusing to share medical personnel, and leaving the regular army with insufficient food, water, and even ammunition. The hostility of Artesh recruits toward the “spoiled” combatants of the IRGC continues inexorably to grow. More on this outbreak of mutual hostility in the ranks can be found here: “Desertions, shortages and army-IRGC rift strain Iran’s military,” Iran International, March 12, 2026:
Iran’s armed forces are facing acute supply shortages, rising desertions and deepening friction between the regular army (Artesh) and the Revolutionary Guards, according to informed sources who described a military system under growing strain as the war intensifies.
Among the most serious allegations are reports that wounded army personnel have been denied assistance by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), that some frontline units are operating with minimal ammunition, food and drinking water, and that attempts to mobilize reserve forces have faltered.
Tensions between army and Revolutionary Guards
One of the sharpest points of friction appears to involve medical support for wounded soldiers.
Sources said that regular army units are suffering significant casualties but that IRGC personnel have refused to transport injured army soldiers to hospitals despite having access to medical facilities.
According to the sources, Revolutionary Guards officials rejected repeated army requests for assistance, citing shortages of ambulances and blood supplies.
The refusals have deepened anger and resentment between personnel from the two forces, adding to long-standing institutional tensions between the regular army (Artesh) and the IRGC….
Large numbers of troops have been reported as having deserted from their bases en masse, and seeking refuge among sympathetic Iranian civilians in towns nearby.
The strain is not limited to the regular army, according to the sources.
Even within IRGC missile units – traditionally among the best resourced parts of Iran’s military – there have been reports of communications equipment failures and shortages of food and other basic supplies.
The IRGC’s elite units, containing the soldiers in charge of missile launches, have always been given the best treatment by the regime. But even they are suffering from a lack of food and water, though not to the extent endured by the regular army.
The upper echelons of the IRGC are determined to keep their missile systems operational, which means ensuring a steady supply of components. And that matters far more to them than does the wellbeing of their troops; food for those troops arrives only intermittently. They are not starving, but are certainly undernourished.
Even the elite IRGC, whose troops are the best-fed and best supplied In Iran, are finding that they can no longer count on their own reserves answering the call when summoned. More of those refractory soldiers simply don’t show up. Worse still, a noticeable number are moving their families closer to the country’s borders — especially those with Iraq and Turkey — in the hope that they can together make it safely across.
Meanwhile, the resentment in the regular army at the high-handed ways of the IRGC continue to roil the ranks. Especially infuriating is the IRGC’s refusal to let its own medical personnel treat wounded soldiers from the regular army. The fury is not yet to the point of mutiny, and a demand for better treatment “at the same level as the Revolutionary Guards enjoy” but it’s getting there. It’s not far-fetched to imagine a future scenario with the Iranian National Army refusing to fire on protesters, and the IRGC then firing on the army.
Westman says
When I first read the description “swarthy”, I didn’t know what it meant. Now when looking at IRGC officers it comes immediately to mind. What an ugly bunch.
The Army desertion is actually good news because the army being absorbed into the community means the citizens are becoming armed. It will be a great day when the IRGC become the hunted.
OLD GUY says
Yes, this could be the beginning of the end for the IRGC, but I don’t see them going down without a bloody fight. I hope the people of Iran can overpower the IRGC and get their country back to peace and prosperity .
More than one threat says
Surely the US and Israelis could hack whatever Iranian TV, radio, and Internet services (if available) and use psyops techniques to solict lical support.
The US and Israelis could offer air dropped food and medical aid in return for locals providing intelligence and marking regime political locations, IRGC forces or Basij locations by some means, such as by a fire.
The locals are the “boots on the ground”. Help them overthrow the regime and liberate themselves.
Hank says
If they truly want to liberate themselves for the long-term, both physically and spiritually, they need to get rid of the Arab hegemony they got in 1979 – in short de-Islamize and become an Islamophobe.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
If this is the situation within the Artesh, they should just openly declare their allegiance to King/Prince Reza Pahlavi and start massacring the IRGC. After all, unlike Iranian protestors, they do have the guns
࿗Infidel࿘ says
W/ the killings of Larijani and Soleimani, wonder whether the Artesh will now find the courage to break out and crack down on the IRGC?
࿗Infidel࿘ says
On a different note, Reza Pahlavi has named Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi to lead the transitional Justice committee
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202603162483
If that’s the only thing she does, maybe fine. But while she may not be a jihadist, she’s definitely a Leftist: one of the things she did in 2010 was support a BDS resolution against Israel in the University of California:
Given that this Iranian revolution wouldn’t even be conceivable w/o Israel – since the US is no longer in the democracy-creation business – this would be a bad appointment if she got to influence anything beyond this scope. The Pahlavi transition government needs to not only have good relations w/ Israel, but go so far as have their embassy in Jerusalem. And ideally, pull Iran out of the OIC
I do hope that King/Prince Reza Pahlavi makes better appointments to other leadership positions of his
Billy says
I still believe that President Trump should gain direct or indirect control of the Iranian Oil like in Venezuela, and Iran must pay America for the cost of the last 47 years of Muslim terrorism and violence taught from Islam’s Qur’an(Qur’an 9:5, 29, 111; 49:15, etc.). The Winner dictates terms of surrender.
Muslims love their Criminal-Terrorist-Gang Organizations in Mosques, Muslim Homes, Muslim Schools, Islamic Centers, etc. to fund, to educate, and to propagate Muslim Propaganda against all Non-Muslims. Allah in Qur’an 49:15 teaches, “Surely the believers[Muslims] are only those who believed in Allah and his messenger. They do not doubt, and they performed JIHAD with their MONEY and their LIVES for the sake of Allah. Those are the truthful.” Allah in Qur’an 9:29 commands, “Engage in war with those who do not believe in Allah nor in the last day[Non-Muslims]. Nor forbid what Allah and his messenger forbid[in Islamic Law], nor believe in the religion of the truth[Islam] among those who have given the book[Jews and Christians] until they pay the jizyah[Extortion Payment] out of hand and they are subdued.”