The Power and Influence of Iran's Revolutionary Guards

Iran's Revolutionary Guards, established post-1979 Islamic Revolution, wield substantial military and political influence. With distinct army, navy, air force, and intelligence units, they support regional militias and manage Iran's ballistic missile program. Their economic interests span various industries, making them a central pillar in Iran's power structure.

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards are poised to play a pivotal role if retaliation occurs for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week. Questions and answers about the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC), Iran's dominant military force, reveal their structure and functions which include their own army, navy, air force, and intelligence wing.

Founded shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the IRGC's mission is to safeguard the Shi'ite Muslim clerical ruling system and counterbalance the regular armed forces. Answerable to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the IRGC boasts a 125,000-strong military force along with the Basij religious militia, a volunteer paramilitary group often used to quash anti-government protests.

The IRGC's Quds Force influences allied militias across the Middle East, from Lebanon to Yemen. Notably, the Quds Force supports President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's civil war and backs Iraqi security forces against Islamic State militants. Their economic involvement spans construction, telecommunications, and oil and gas projects, cementing their role in Iran's reconstruction post-1980s war with Iraq.

(With inputs from agencies.)