Has Trump misunderstood Iran’s IRGC and the Basij forces?
#Trump #Iran #IRGC #Basij #Khamenei #Israel #Conflict #Terrorist Organization #Islamic Revolution #Middle East #Sanctions #Supreme Leader #Drone Strike #Missile Attack
📌 Key Takeaways
- Trump called for IRGC and Basij forces to surrender or face certain death in response to the attacks on Iran.
- Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Arab nations hosting US assets.
- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, was reportedly killed in a strike on Tehran.
- The IRGC is an elite armed force directly answerable to the supreme leader, with a doctrine based on velayat-e faqih (guardianship of the Islamic jurist).
- The Basij is a volunteer paramilitary force under the IRGC, often composed of young, working-class men motivated by ideological devotion.
- The IRGC holds significant power in Iran's defense, foreign operations, regional influence, and economic sectors.
- Experts believe the IRGC is unlikely to comply with Trump's call due to its ideological commitment, power base, and the potential for increased control following recent events.
- Some analysts suggest that instead of a return to democracy, Iran may see a military-controlled state with the IRGC firmly in power.
📖 Full Retelling
On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran, prompting US President Donald Trump to urge members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij forces to lay down their arms to avoid 'certain death.' This appeal seemingly failed to achieve its intended effect, as Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes against Israel and several Arab nations hosting US assets. Subsequently, Iranian state television reported the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's longtime supreme leader, in a strike on Tehran. The article explores the nature of the IRGC and Basij, their roles in Iran’s defense and internal affairs, and analyzes why Trump’s call for surrender is unlikely to be heeded. It highlights the deep ideological commitment of the IRGC and its members to the Islamic Revolution and the supreme leader, as well as their significant economic and social power within Iran. Experts suggest that the IRGC's control over Iran's state may even strengthen following these events.
🏷️ Themes
International Relations, Military Conflict, Political Instability, Iran, Terrorism, Geopolitics, Ideology
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Original Source
Features | Explainer Has Trump misunderstood Iran’s IRGC and the Basij forces? The US president called for IRGC members to lay down their arms or face ‘certain death’. Here’s how he misunderstands the IRGC. Listen to this article | 7 mins By Al Jazeera Staff Published On 1 Mar 2026 1 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media Share Save Add Al Jazeera on Google On Saturday, as the United States and Israel attacked Iran, US President Donald Trump sent a message to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps conscripts, demanding they surrender or die. “To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity,” Trump said. “Or in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death.” Instead, they retaliated with drone and missile attacks on Israel and multiple Arab states that host US assets in the region. Early on Sunday morning, Iranian state television announced that one of the strikes on Tehran killed its longtime supreme leader , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. If Trump’s appeal to the IRGC was aimed at inspiring defections or abdications, it does not seem to have had the intended effect. So why did Trump’s call for the IRGC to lay down their arms fall on deaf ears? Here’s everything you need to know: What is the IRGC It is an elite armed force and a constitutionally recognised component of the Iranian military, established in 1979 after the Islamic revolution. It operates alongside the country’s regular army but answers directly to the supreme leader. In fact, its doctrine is built on velayat-e faqih, or guardianship of the Islamic jurist, essentially the protection of the Islamic revolution and its fealty to the supreme religious leader, initially Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who died in 1989 and was succeeded by Khamenei. Advertisement It is composed of ground, naval and air f...
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