Iranian soldiers at the funeral of their comrade who was killed at the age of 18 during a conflict with smugglers

All young men who reach the age of 18 must spend about two years of compulsory military service in the Iranian army or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[1] Often, the General staff of the armed forces of Iran chooses where people will serve, and a person cannot choose where to serve.[1] The length of conscription is between 18 months to 2 years.[1][2]

Before the 1979 revolution, women were also forced to serve in the military.[3] However, after the establishment of the Islamic Republic, some Ayatollahs considered women's military service to be disrespectful to women by the Pahlavi government and banned women's military service in Iran.[4] Therefore, Iranian women and girls were completely exempted from military service, which caused Iranian men and boys to oppose.[5]

In Iran, men who refuse to go to military service are deprived of their citizenship rights, such as employment, health insurance,[6] continuing their education at university,[7] finding a job, going abroad, opening a bank account,[8] etc.[9] Iranian boys have so far opposed mandatory military service and demanded that military service in Iran become a job like in other countries, but the Islamic Republic is opposed to this demand.[10] Some Iranian military commanders consider the elimination of conscription or improving the condition of soldiers as a security issue and one of Ali Khamenei's powers as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces,[10][11] so they treat it with caution.[12] In Iran, usually prosperous and wealthy people are exempted from conscription.[13][14] Some other boys can be exempted from conscription due to their fathers serving in the Iran-Iraq war.[15][16]

Women's military service before the 1979 revolution. After the establishment of the Islamic Republic, women's military service was banned.[17][18][19]

This period for military service is divided into two parts; The basic training period is about 2 months in some determined garrisons, and after that, they are sent to their main destination garrison. The conscripts do not have any authority to select the branches for serving this compulsory period. When the applicants submit their applications, the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran decides to assign them to different organizations based on their needs and availability. These garrisons belong to different branches consisting of the Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (Artesh): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force (IRIAF), Khatemolanbia Air Defense Headquarters; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enqelab-e Eslami, IRGC): Ground Resistance Forces, Navy, Aerospace Force, Quds Force (special operations). There is also, Non-military service (Civilian Service) (Persian: امریه read "Amriyeh") is a substitute for military service.

Non-Military Conscription (Persian: سرباز امریه)

While non-military options such as Amriyeh present an attractive alternative to some, they are not without their shortcomings. Despite the apparent allure of avoiding military uniform, performing official tasks, and potentially securing post-conscription employment, these options can also breed intense competition and demands for applicants. It's important to note that these options require individuals to meet stringent requirements such as high academic achievement, research experience, publications, and innovative ideas. This effectively excludes a significant portion of potential applicants who may not have had the same opportunities to meet these standards. Moreover, the organizations eligible to hire such conscripts, such as various ministries and knowledge-based organizations, are restricted and can limit opportunities for wider employment. One unspoken reality is that this path often favors those with established connections within the Iranian government. Thus, this scheme unintentionally propagates a system that rewards nepotism over meritocracy, undermining its initial purpose.

History

Iranian soldier with his commander (1950s)

Conscription was first introduced by Reza Shah in June 1925 and approved as law by the National Consultative Assembly. At that time every male person who had reached 21 years old must serve in the military for 2 years. However, as the country needed 100,000 men and the qualified population then was 1,000,000, they announced just one man between every 10 men must serve in the military.[20][21]

Conscription time

Conscription time is shown in months in each year:

Female Conscription

Before the 1979 Iranian Revolution, both men and women were conscripted. Post-revolution, the law changed and women were no longer subject to conscription. [22][23]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "سربازی اجباری؛ نیروی کار ارزان در دست نظامیان". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  2. ↑ "Did you know conscription length in Iran is 30 years?". Aftab (in Persian). 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "Iran - Military Conscription". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  4. ↑ "مباحثه خواندنی آیت‌الله صافی‌گلپایگانی و آیت‌الله خزعلی در مجلس خبرگان بر سرآموزش نظامی زنان". خبرآنلاین (in Persian). 2011-04-03. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  5. ↑ "جام نیوز :: JamNews - دختران ایرانی به سربازی می روند؟". 2016-09-13. Archived from the original on 2016-09-13. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  6. ↑ "مرکز پژوهشها - قانون خدمت وظیفه عمومی". 2020-02-10. Archived from the original on 2020-02-10. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  7. ↑ "اخطار سازمان وظیفه عمومی: داوطلبان کنکور امسال وضعیت سربازی خود را روشن کنند". خبرآنلاین (in Persian). 2020-08-23. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  8. ↑ tebyan.net (2010-07-29). "اگر سربازی نروید ..." fa (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  9. ↑ "مشمولان غایب سربازی از دریافت چه خدماتی محروم می‌شوند؟- اخبار پلیس - اخبار اجتماعی تسنیم | Tasnim". خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  10. 1 2 "سربازی اجباری؛ نیروی کار ارزان در دست نظامیان". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  11. ↑ "سازمان سربازی ناجا - فرمايشات رهبری". 2018-03-11. Archived from the original on 2018-03-11. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  12. ↑ "یک قرن با پوتین و کلاه سربازی، از 'قبله عالم' تا 'ولی امر'". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  13. ↑ فردا, رادیو (2022-01-30). "بازگشت فروش خدمت سربازی در ایران؛ این بار تنها برای افراد مرفه". رادیو فردا (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  14. ↑ "پولدارها دوباره سربازی نمی‌روند!". خبرآنلاین (in Persian). 2022-01-30. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  15. ↑ mizanonline.ir (2023-03-16). "شرایط دریافت معافیت جانبازی برای مشمولان". fa (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  16. ↑ "معافیت با جانبازی پدر". 2019-03-16. Archived from the original on 2019-03-16. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  17. ↑ "Iran - Military Conscription". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  18. ↑ "جام نیوز :: JamNews - دختران ایرانی به سربازی می روند؟". 2016-09-13. Archived from the original on 2016-09-13. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  19. ↑ "مباحثه خواندنی آیت‌الله صافی‌گلپایگانی و آیت‌الله خزعلی در مجلس خبرگان بر سرآموزش نظامی زنان". خبرآنلاین (in Persian). 2011-04-03. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  20. ↑ "Review of Iran's conscription". ISNA (in Persian). 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  21. ↑ "conscription law approval". Donyaye eghtesad (in Persian). 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  22. ↑ "Why girls do not serve for military?" (in Persian). Religious answer center. 2006. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  23. ↑ "Why girls do not go for military service?". Jam news. 2013. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
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