The United States and Israel conducted coordinated airstrikes on Iran on February 28, reportedly killing several senior military and political leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has vowed revenge for Khamenei and launched a fierce retaliation against Israel and countries with US interests in the region.

As the conflict spreads, attention is turning to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a force crucial in security policymaking and possessing powerful military assets.

IRGC members at a parade in Tehran in September 2018. Photo: AFP

The IRGC is a distinct force within Iran's unique "parallel army" structure. Instead of a unified military, Iran maintains two armed organizations: the IRGC and the regular army, which operate independently with their own command systems.

The IRGC's establishment stemmed from the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, which overthrew the pro-Western regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The new Islamic government, led by Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini, recognized the need for a powerful, dedicated force to uphold its leadership and revolutionary ideals.

The clergy at the time drafted a new constitution that stipulated a "parallel" structure. The regular army was tasked with defending borders and maintaining domestic order, while the guard force was established to protect the Islamic system. From this requirement, the IRGC was formed from paramilitary groups that helped overthrow Shah Pahlavi.

"The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, formed in the early days after the revolution's victory, must be maintained to continue its role in protecting the revolution and its achievements," Iran's constitution states regarding the IRGC.

The IRGC reports directly to the Supreme Leader, while the regular Iranian army is managed by the government. This position grants the IRGC greater political influence than the army.

Initially, the IRGC operated mainly domestically, but its scope quickly expanded after Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein launched a war against Iran in 1980. Khomeini then granted the IRGC its own ground, naval, and air units, transforming the organization from a revolutionary protection force into a more complete and independent military structure.

The 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war transformed the IRGC into a more regular fighting force, with a command structure similar to Western armies, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

The IRGC is estimated to have 190,000 personnel, with about one-half being conscripts, divided into branches including the Ground Force, Navy, Aerospace Force, and the Basij paramilitary force.

The IRGC Ground Force is based in all 31 provinces and the capital, Tehran. The Basij force can mobilize 600,000 people. The IRGC Navy is separate from the regular Iranian navy and is responsible for maritime borders, including the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-third of the world's oil production passes.

The IRGC Aerospace Force has about 15,000 military personnel. Its cyber command conducts electronic warfare and information warfare operations. The IRGC is responsible for Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear programs.

Scale of IRGC and Iranian army. Graphic: CFR

The IRGC holds significant influence in Iranian politics. Many former IRGC officials have served and continue to hold senior positions in the government, including the cabinet, parliament, and provincial administrations.

In 2004, 91 former IRGC members were elected as members of Iran's parliament. In 2005, the IRGC openly supported presidential candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a conservative mayor of Tehran. Ahmadinejad's election further solidified the IRGC's power.

In foreign affairs, the IRGC actively defends Iran's interests through a strategy scholars call "defense in depth." The IRGC has a special Quds Force responsible for all Iranian overseas operations, deployed in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen since the 1980s.

The initial goal of this special force was to promote the Islamic revolution outside Iranian territory, but it later evolved to expand Tehran's regional influence by providing weapons and training to local militia groups.

Iran refers to this network of militias as the "Axis of Resistance," helping Tehran counter US and Israeli influence in the Middle East.

In 2019, during Donald Trump's first term, the United States designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization. Canada took similar action in 2024. The United Kingdom and the European Union have also expressed this intention but have not yet acted.

IRGC test-fires Ghadr-380 naval cruise missile at an undisclosed location in Iran in February 2025. Photo: AFP

Ray Takeyh, an analyst at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) policy institute, describes the IRGC as Iran's most important force. Due to its loyalty to the Supreme Leader's ideology, the IRGC's power sometimes overshadows even the president.

The IRGC is expected to play a significant role in the succession process for Khamenei, thereby further strengthening its position.

As Tam (According to AP, Reuters, CFR)