The Islamic Republic of Iran has lowered the minimum age to 12 for participation in war-related activities. No, it’s not that boys and girls will be sent off to fight. Instead, children as young as 12 will now be used to help man checkpoints, to go on patrols (presumably to watch out for saboteurs, or for signs of discontent and defeatism among the population), and to help with logistics. The Iranian state needs all the help it can get — even from its children. More on this sign of desperation can be found here: “Iran Lowers Minimum Age for War Roles to 12, Sparking Outcry Over Child Soldier Use,” by Ailin Vilches Arguello, Algemeiner, March 26, 2026:
The Iranian regime has lowered the minimum age for participation in war-related activities to just 12 years old, a move that will likely fuel the concerns of human rights groups, which have condemned Iran’s treatment of children.
In a televised interview with state media, Rahim Nadali, a cultural with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Tehran, announced that the new initiative “For Iran” is recruiting participants to assist with patrols, checkpoints, and logistics.
“Since children are increasingly volunteering to take part, we have lowered the minimum age to 12,” Nadali said, urging young children to join the war effort if they wish.
Iran International first reported Nadali’s statement, which has since circulated on social media.
As part of the regime’s state media coverage of the US-Israeli war against Iran, this latest announcement has ignited mounting backlash over the use of minors in security‑related roles — a practice that is not new in Iran.
“Recruiting children into military activity is a violation of international laws and the international community must not stay silent,” Iranian-American activist Masih Alinejad posted on social media, along with video of Nadali’s comments. “This is the same regime that lectures the world about morality. But when it comes to survival? They’re willing to send children into danger.”
In the past, widely circulated social media images and videos have repeatedly shown children and teenagers in military-style uniforms cracking down on protests, including during the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom uprising, which erupted nationwide after Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman, died in a Tehran police station following her arrest for allegedly violating hijab rules.
Under international law, Iran’s move flagrantly violates the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which explicitly prohibits the use of children in military activities, marking a dramatic breach of its global obligations.
When a regime decides to call on its children to take part in a war, this is clearly a sign of desperation. This lowering of the age at which children in Iran can take part in the war effort puts one in mind of National Socialist Germany, when in 1945, children as young as 12 were drafted in an effort to defend Berlin and the remnants of the regime. And that is not the only thing about the Iranian regime that should remind us of Nazi Germany.
Kepha says
Child soldiers? I get notices all the time about how so-and-so lied about his age to go fight Hitler and Tojo. I red Sun Shuyun’s book on the Long March, based on interviews with its last survivors, did the math, and realized the interviewees had been child soldiers. What do all the present-day humanitarians say, since they all hailed Mao as the “bright, red sun” back in the SIllier ‘Seventies? Uncle Kepha has taught kids from Sierra Leone who were child soldiers in that country’s late civil war.
I hope the Iranian regime goes belly up soon. I hope the Iranian people get Christ. I pray for peace. But, methinks that as long as people remain sinners, we’ll see kids going to war.
Wellington says
Hello, Kepha. Though an agnostic as you know, I too hope that Persians en masse would “get Christ.” A Christian Iran, though unlikely in “probability land,” would be a boon to the Middle East and all the world because the Christian ethic is infinitely superior to the Islamic ethic, theological matters aside (and yes, I know this is a big “aside”).
One can, after all, support an enlightened religion (and Christianity easily counts here) without necessarily accepting its theology (I understand for devout Christians like yourself you would think the two cannot be separated but here I would respectfully disagree). Christians can do this with Jews. Hindus can do this with Buddhists. Hindus and Buddhists can do this with Christians. And so on. As Benjamin Franklin, a fellow skeptic like myself, opined, if man is bad with religion, imagine what he’d be without it. The history of the last hundred years, what with Marxism, Nazism, your standard authoritarianism, etc., bitterly proves Franklin’s point, though Islam would be the major exception to this Franklinian rule.
In any case, I wish only optimal results for Iran and staying with Islam will most certainly not produce optimal results. Here I believe we will have no disagreement.
Unbeliever1 says
Using children on the battlefield is not surprising when it comes to the Iranian regime. Young boys were used as cannon fodder by Iran during the war with Iraq. Those “volunteers”, as the mullahs called them, were chained together, given “keys to paradise,” and were tasked with clearing the way for frontline troops to advance.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
A great speech by Crown Prince/King Reza Pahlavi 2 days back at CPAC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW7-32tqP4s
I think he hit all the right notes in appealing to Americans to support the Iranian people. In particular was the goal that US troops would no longer be needed in the Middle East once Iran becomes a democracy, and that Iran could become a major economic partner of the US in the region. I do hope that his speech shut up the Tucker crowd who think that this is just a war to service Israel
Wellington says
And as you have noted before, Infidel, a post-theocratic regime in Iran must also have a capacity to defend itself so that complete obliteration of Iran’s defense capabilities must be avoided.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Yes, Wellington. I do worry that the longer this drags on and the more decimated Iran’s actual army gets, it may leave Iran too weak to prevent encroachments by its neighbors – Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan. In addition to being secular and democratic, a new Iran does have to be powerful enough to hold its own
somehistory says
No surprise since some iranian muzzie ghoul some years ago said infants in cribs could be given to old males in the pretend ‘marriage’ thingy to be raped, again and again, though knowing it could kill the babies.
Children have been *used* as soldiers in many wars and uprisings in the long history of war among selfish and evil humans. Many people view children as expendable because they are too young to fight back…in word or deed…and win.
somehistory says
And the ‘pope’ is once again, pretending to speak for Jesus Christ about the war. the U.S. is in with iran..
The Daily Beast says the ‘pope delivers a “holy warning.”‘ I have to disagree. It’s not possible for a human who misrepresents Jesus to deliver anything “holy.” Donuts with holes, maybe or some Swiss cheese, but not “holy” words.
The false prophet says Jesus is ‘crying from the cross.’ I have to let the goon know that Jesus is not *on the cross.* Jesus is in heaven on a throne at His Father’s right hand.
The pope should be ashamed. Pretending to speak for God, using his own human ideas of what should be done.
Jesus never said everyone are His “brothers and sisters.” He said His “friends are those who obey” His commandments.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pope-delivers-holy-warning-to-trump-in-blistering-address/ar-AA1ZFtbz?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=69c99b902dc742e79730e5d6a987df19&ei=24
James Lincoln says
somehistory says,
“The false prophet says Jesus is ‘crying from the cross.’ I have to let the goon know that Jesus is not *on the cross.* Jesus is in heaven on a throne at His Father’s right hand.”
Perfectly stated – my compliments.
somehistory says
Thank you much, James.
Winston 101 says
Exactly,
It shows you how little understanding of Christian Catholic theology and scripture this cosplaying, foolish man actually has.
He doesn’t even know who Christ is, or God The Father, based on the centuries of written Catholic Theology he’s supposed to be the head of.
Look how he portrays Jesus – as still on the cross! How stupid!
I am not religious but I was raised Catholic. Even I know better than to think of Christ in that way. Christ was victorious – over Death itself!
He’s speaking as if he’s talking to children who don’t know their Catechism. He can fool them into thinking Jesus is so soft and weak that we can hurt his feelings with our sins. What a puny Jesus that would be.
I’m sorry, but with this string of Popes since John Paul II,
( And even then you have to overlook his crime of covering up the extensive pedophile/ephebophile crimes against children and teenagers.)
– it’s looking like the “gates of Hell are prevailing” as “the Pope” doesn’t seem to have a clue about what he’s the head of.
I hope the people of the Catholic Church can register their deep dissatisfaction with their “leadership” and express their desire for someone who is perhaps familiar with actual Catholic teachings.
I
Cynthia says
Iran survived the war with Iraq and has no problem killing tens of thousands of its own and exploiting their young. All in the service of remaining in power and spreading Islam.
Next goal-destroying Israel and the US. They will take any hits to torture their enemies. Will we last?
OLD GUY says
The training of these young children takes place in the mosque.
Troybeam says
Does Iran value children as in their future? No, they simply use them for their own purpose.
Muslim children are nothing more than a tool, son’s have value whereas daughters value come into play when sold off to an old men at a extremely young age for money and personal gifts whatever they may be.
Would like when all is done that Iran returns to its original name: Persia
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Most of the kids described in the above story are kids of regime supporters. Most, if not all, dissidents have kept their kids away from school even before the war started
gravenimage says
Iran Shows a Clear Sign of Desperation
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Child soldiers–Iran has done this before.
God, I hate Islam.