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PoliticsIran

Who are Iran's Revolutionary Guards?

Published January 14, 2026last updated January 29, 2026

The "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps" was created after the 1979 revolution in Iran and is widely seen as being crucial to suppressing recent protests against the regime. Here's a closer look at the IRGC.

https://p.dw.com/p/56nD8

Iran's Revolutionary Guard has deployed nationwide amid growing protests, stopping cars and checking phones.

The elite force, loyal to the Supreme Leader, controls powerful economic sectors and oversees regional proxies. Despite major losses in US and Israeli strikes, the Revolutionary Guards remain central to Iran's regime — and a key focus of public resentment.

Ralph Martin TV news reporter and editor