All We Know About Iran’s IRGC

Where the IRGC came from:

It was started following the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

Ruhollah Khomeini set up the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in April–May 1979.

• To keep the new Islamic government safe
• To stop a coup by the military
• To fight Iran’s regular army, which had been loyal to the Shah
• To bring together revolutionary militias into one group

The main principle behind its making

Khomeini didn’t have faith in the regular army.

So he formed a second army that was dedicated to the revolution and its ideas, not the state.

This is why Iran has:

Army (Artesh)

AND the IRGC (politically stronger)

Growth during the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988)

The war changed the IRGC:

Grew from a militia to a full military force

IRGC Gained:

• Structure
• Funding
• Political influence

This is when it became permanent and powerful

How the IRGC Operates

1. Separate from the regular military

The IRGC:

Has its own command structure

Reports directly to the Supreme Leader

Operates independently of the president

 It is essentially a state within a state

2. Its internal structure

The IRGC is not just one force—it’s a complex system:

🪖 Ground Forces

Control internal security across Iran

Stationed nationwide

Navy

Focuses on:

Persian Gulf

Strait of Hormuz (critical oil route)

Aerospace Force

Runs Iran’s:

Missile program

Strategic deterrence

Intelligence & Cyber Units

Surveillance

Cyber warfare

Propaganda operations

Basij (Paramilitary Force)

Massive volunteer militia

Used for:

Protest suppression

Internal control

Can mobilize hundreds of thousands of people

Quds Force (Foreign Operations)

Handles operations outside Iran

IRGC supports allied groups in:

• Iraq
• Lebanon
• Syria
• Yemen

This is how Iran projects power globally

3. Their Core Missions
A. Protect the regime

Crush protests

Monitor dissent

Enforce ideological control

B. Expand influence abroad

Train and fund allied groups

Build regional alliances

Counter Western and Israeli influence

C. Control parts of the economy

The IRGC:

Owns or controls businesses in:

Oil & gas

Construction

Telecoms

This gives them financial independence and power

D. Influence politics

Many former IRGC members become:

Ministers

Governors

Parliament members

They shape policy from inside the system

How Powerful Are They Really?

Today, the IRGC is:

The most powerful military force in Iran

A political kingmaker

A major economic empire

Recent developments even suggest they are becoming the dominant power center, especially in times of crisis

Why They’re So Unique

Most countries have a military that serves the government.

The IRGC is different:

It serves the ideology of the Islamic Republic

It answers directly to the Supreme Leader—not elected officials

It operates in:

Military

Politics

Economy

Foreign policy

Facts:

• Created in 1979 to protect the revolution
• Built as a counterweight to the regular army
• Expanded during war into a full military + political force
• Now operates as:
• Military
• Intelligence agency
• Economic powerhouse
• Foreign operations network