TEHRAN, April 1, (V7N) — An unsettling new reality has emerged in Iran’s capital: teenagers as young as 12 patrolling checkpoints with machine guns, part of a sweeping security crackdown since the war with the United States and Israel began.

Residents report encountering youths aged 13–14 stopping cars, opening doors without permission, and checking mobile phones. One woman described the experience as “extremely intrusive,” after a boy entered her car and examined her photographs.

Iranian authorities have confirmed that minors are being recruited into the Basij paramilitary force, reviving memories of the Iran‑Iraq war in the 1980s when children fought on the frontlines. Officials say the minimum age has been lowered to 12 due to “inundated” volunteer requests.

Checkpoints, once heavily fortified with military vehicles, have become more dispersed after airstrikes, but street patrols and pro‑government rallies continue. Supporters drive cars with loudspeakers, wave flags, and chant slogans to deter opposition gatherings.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf urged loyalists to “not abandon the streets,” linking domestic control to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic global shipping route. Analysts say the government is leaning on its hardline support base amid a legitimacy crisis, aiming to suppress dissent and prevent uprisings encouraged by US and Israeli leaders.

Human rights groups have condemned the recruitment of children. Human Rights Watch said using minors under 15 in military roles constitutes a war crime, warning that children are being put at risk of attacks. “Iranian authorities are apparently willing to risk children’s lives for some extra manpower,” said Bill Van Esveld, HRW’s associate children’s rights director.

Experts interpret the move as either a sign of desperation or a radical turn by authorities. Hamidreza Azizi, a fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said the regime is relying on its most devout minority base to maintain control in wartime.

END/WD/RH/