In 1978-79, a chain of major events took place in Iran, as a result of which a government coup took place in the state. Popular unrest began with anti-government demonstrations, which were brutally suppressed by the Shah's military forces. At the end of 1978, the strikes took on a more decisive character, which led to a total paralysis of the economy and the rapid loss of authority and strength of the Shah's government. Unable to hold on anymore
power, Shah Mohammed Rez Pahlavi fled the country. Early next year, Iran was declared a republic, with Ayatollah Khomeini as its new head of state.
Protection of achievements and Revolutionary Guards
As in many states that survived a government coup or revolution, there were still pro-Shah forces in Iran, and there was a real threat of counter-revolution. To protect the new leader of the country and his government, the so-called Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was created. It was formed from paramilitary units, whicharose during the revolution.
Regiment support
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps did not leave the stage of history over time, but only strengthened its influence and became a kind of alternative army,
designed to protect the state. In 1982, the charter of the organization was approved, where it was once again confirmed that its main goal is to protect the achievements of the revolution (that is, the actual regime in the country), as well as the maximum spread of the domination of Islam, strengthening the defense potential of Iran and the military readiness of the people's militia.
Structure and numbers
The approximate number of formation today is estimated at 130 thousand people. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has a very branched structure. The organization of the entire army divides it into 31 territorial corps - one in each region of the Iranian Republic. Its ground forces include about 100 thousand people. The remaining units are the naval forces of the IRGC, the air force and the border guard corps. In the subordination of the formation is also the people's militia, called here "Basiji". The IRGC is armed with artillery systems, armored vehicles, chemical weapons, combat aircraft. Moreover, the state funding of this corps is even higher than the structures of the official army. All corps members pass
rigid psychological selection, and, once in the detachment, are subjected to a massive ideologicalprocessing. To die for the cause of the Islamic revolution is not an empty phrase for them. It is the fighting spirit that is an important advantage of this formation over the armies of many secular states, where motivation is limited mainly to material goods. The IRGC fighters are fanatics in the most literal sense of the word.
Participation in hostilities
During its existence, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps managed to participate very actively in the war between Iran and Iraq, in the 1980s, in the civil war in Lebanon, in Syria, in the conflict in northern Iran with the Kurds and in Balochistan. In addition, the corps is directly related to the formation and further support of the Hezbollah group.
