Crime & Justice
Outrage grows over Iran’s use of minors in security activities
Reports from across Iran indicate authorities are increasingly drawing children into security activities, weapons training, and state-sponsored militarization programs.
![Iranian youths participate in a training session at a soccer centre in Tehran on June 7, 2026. [ATTA KENARE / AFP]](/gc3/images/2026/06/18/56584-afp__20260607__b6-370_237.webp)
By Pishtaz |
The Islamic Republic is facing mounting scrutiny over reports that children are increasingly being used in security-related operations and military-themed events nationwide.
According to accounts collected by Iran International, authorities have deployed minors, including some reportedly aged just 10 to 12 years old, at local checkpoints.
Citizens from multiple provinces also reported a growing presence of minors in military-style programs organized by state-affiliated institutions.
Residents told Iran International that children have been given access to firearms and instructed in weapons handling during state-sponsored gatherings.
"At the entrance to Bastak in Hormozgan province, they hand rifles to children every night," one resident said.
Witnesses described events where minors participated in military exercises and received training involving rifles and other weapons.
These reports have intensified concerns among child rights advocates, educators, and organizations monitoring the treatment of children in Iran.
The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teacher Trade Associations warned that such practices contribute to the "militarization of childhood" and violate Iran’s obligations toward children.
The use of children for ideological and security purposes has long been embedded within the Islamic Republic’s governing framework.
During the Iran-Iraq War, thousands of underage were recruited through state-backed organizations, including the Basij.
Human rights advocates argue that current practices, alongside school-based "Defensive Readiness" classes, normalize violence and encourage youth participation in security affairs.
Critics say these activities are unfolding amid severe economic hardship affecting large segments of Iranian society.
Citizens said authorities use food packages, financial incentives, and material assistance to attract participants.
Such incentives reportedly target economically vulnerable communities struggling with inflation, unemployment, and deepening poverty.
International child protection standards emphasize safeguarding minors from recruitment and involvement in military or security-related activities.