From Tehran's Streets to Battlefronts: Iran Begins Mobilizing 'Fedayeen'

Hossein Taeb, head of Iran's Basij paramilitary organization, announced the assignment of registered participants in the "Fedayeen" campaign to Iranian military and defense units, noting that initial and advanced training programs covering land, air, and maritime domains are being prepared for them.

On Friday, during a drill named "313,000 Fedayeen of Iran," Taeb said hundreds of thousands of registered individuals have already been organized in the capital, and their integration into military and defense units has begun.

The exercise took place along the route stretching from Imam Hussein Square to Revolution Square in Tehran. Iranian state media reported that 313,000 people participated, a figure that could not be independently verified.

Taeb described the campaign as part of a project to "involve the public in defense and security," announcing that the activity will expand from Tehran to other provinces and cities across Iran, claiming that "tens of millions" are ready to join.

He added that participation by what he called "Fedayeen of Iran" should influence decisions made by Iranian officials, arguing that the broadening of participation would impact calculations by the United States and Israel.

In related remarks, Taeb stated that "Iran will use all of its strategic and defensive capabilities," including the Strait of Hormuz, in confronting the United States.

He also predicted that U.S. forces will soon leave the region, calling it a "defeat" for Washington—without providing evidence of any such U.S. decision.

Taeb's statements come amid rising Iranian rhetoric about military readiness and volunteer mobilization, while figures on the number of registrants in the "Fedayeen" campaign remain disputed. Previous reports have questioned claims that over 30 million people signed up for the campaign.