Amid escalating hostilities in the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States, reports indicate that Iranian authorities have begun recruiting children as young as 12 into roles linked to the country’s war effort, drawing sharp criticism from international human rights organisations.
According to findings by groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched a campaign titled “Homeland Defending Combatants for Iran,” aimed at mobilising civilians, including minors, for support roles. The recruitment drive reportedly sets the minimum age at 12, a move widely condemned as a violation of international humanitarian law.
Children involved in the initiative are said to be deployed in various capacities, including guarding checkpoints, conducting patrols and assisting in logistical operations. While Iranian authorities have claimed that these youths are volunteering to defend their country amid foreign aggression, rights groups argue that such practices place minors in grave danger and amount to the use of child soldiers.
Amnesty International has described the recruitment of children under 15 as a war crime, urging Iran to immediately halt the practice. The organisation warned that placing children alongside military personnel or within targeted facilities exposes them to a heightened risk of death and injury, especially as US and allied strikes continue across Iranian territory.
The development comes against the backdrop of an intensifying war that has already taken a significant humanitarian toll. Reports suggest that large parts of Iran have witnessed repeated attacks on military and strategic infrastructure, with civilian areas also affected. In such conditions, the involvement of minors in security-related roles has raised concerns about their safety and long-term psychological well-being.
There are also indications that children have already suffered casualties in the conflict. In one reported instance, an 11-year-old was allegedly killed while performing duties at a checkpoint in Tehran, highlighting the real and immediate risks associated with their deployment.
The recruitment campaign appears to echo historical precedents. During the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, large numbers of children were reportedly used in combat and support roles, often with devastating consequences. Analysts suggest that the current move reflects mounting pressure on Iran’s security apparatus as it grapples with sustained military strikes and internal challenges.
The broader regional situation has further compounded concerns about children’s welfare. Ongoing conflict has disrupted education systems, damaged infrastructure, and displaced large populations, leaving millions of children vulnerable to violence, displacement, and trauma.
Human rights organisations have reiterated that international law strictly prohibits the recruitment or use of children in armed conflict. They have called on Iranian authorities to comply with global conventions and ensure the protection of minors, even amid wartime conditions.
As the conflict continues with no immediate resolution in sight, the reported involvement of children in Iran’s war effort has intensified scrutiny of the country’s military practices and raised urgent questions about the protection of civilian populations, particularly the most vulnerable.
