When news of targeted Israeli strikes hit Iran, one force stood front and centre in global headlines: the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Founded in the chaotic days of 1979, the IRGC has morphed from a revolutionary militia into a sprawling military, economic, and political beast—carrying Iran’s anti-Israel fervor through the “Axis of Resistance” and flexing muscle across the Middle East and beyond.
But what exactly is this powerful entity? Why does it keep popping up in discussions about Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah—and even sleeper cells in the West? And why should any of us care?
Here’s the full breakdown—from inception to missile strikes, proxy wars to bunkered leaders, economic empire-building to global terror designations.
| Topic | Overview | Search Intent |
|---|---|---|
| Origins | Founded May 1979 after Iran’s revolution to protect the new regime and counter the regular army | “When was IRGC founded?”, “IRGC origins” |
| Structure & Size | Split into Ground, Aerospace, Navy, Quds Force, Basij, Intelligence; ~190,000 active + reserves . | “IRGC structure”, “IRGC size” |
| Mission & Role | Protect the revolution, maintain internal security, project power externally . | “IRGC mission”, “IRGC role in Iran” |
| Economic Empire | Controls key sectors like oil, construction, telecom; pocketed black‑market profits . | “IRGC economy”, “IRGC businesses” |
| Regional Influence | Operates through proxies: Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis—Axis of Resistance . | “IRGC Hezbollah”, “IRGC proxies” |
| US Terror Designation | Labeled a terrorist org in 2019; one of the few state actors designated . | “IRGC terrorist designation” |
| Recent Israeli Strikes | Top commanders (Salami, Hajizadeh) killed; Quds Force targeted this June . | “IRGC commander killed”, “Israel strike IRGC” |
| IRGC in Politics | Embedded deeply in politics, intelligence, suppressing dissent, Bani‑Sadr ouster . | “IRGC politics Iran” |
| Internal Repression | Known for torture, human rights abuses via Basij/Intelligence wing . | “IRGC torture”, “IRGC Basij crackdown” |
| Regime Resilience or Risk | Some analysts warn targeting IRGC might backfire or strengthen hardliners . | “What happens if IRGC targeted?”, “Israel-Iran war risk” |
Deep Dive Into Each Topic
Origins & Purpose
Iran’s 1979 revolution dismantled the shah’s regime—but the new government feared unrest or another coup. So, on 5 May 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini decreed the formation of a separate military body—loyal to velayat-e faqih (theocratic rule)—to safeguard the revolution and suppress threats.
Shunning integration with the regular Artesh army, early IRGC steps included countering internal rivals and quashing the Nojeh coup plot.
Structure, Size & Capabilities
From its militia roots, the IRGC grew into a multi-branch power structure:
- Ground Forces (~150,000 personnel) trained for both internal unrest and battlefield operations
- Aerospace Force runs Iran’s ballistic missile program, drones, and air defense
- Navy operates in the Persian Gulf to project naval risks.
- Quds Force handles overseas proxy actions—Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis.
- Basij militia (~90,000 active) is used for ideological policing and suppressing dissent .
- Intelligence & political wings monitor internal factions and protests.
Overall active strength: ~190,000 personnel, swelling over 600,000 with reserves.
Mission: From Tehran to Damascus
The IRGC answers only to Supreme Leader Khamenei—its mandate:
- Defend Iran’s Islamic revolution, prevent coups.
- Suppress internal dissent, using its intelligence and Basij forces.
- Project power regionally through unconventional warfare and proxy networks—the “Axis of Resistance” against Israel and US influence.
This dual role makes it more potent than Iran’s conventional army.
Economic Powerhouse
Post-Iran–Iraq War, IRGC began acquiring state-backed business ventures. Under Ahmadinejad (2005‑13), it gained:
- No‑bid government contracts (oil, construction, telecom).
- Economic influence through companies like Khatam al‑Anbiya spanning billions annually, even in black-market activity .
This creates self-sufficiency, entrenching its social and financial power.
Proxy Network: Axis of Resistance
The IRGC supports Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad—forming a “network of autonomous militant Islamist groups” aimed at choking Israel through sustained, layered confrontation. Quds Force operatives train and arm fighters abroad, backing strategic theater operations across the region .
Designated Terrorist Organization
In 2019, the US took the unprecedented step of labeling IRGC a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)—a rare case of sanctioning a state entity. This positioned IRGC among global terror lists, increasing sanction pressure and isolating Iran’s standing on the international stage.
Recent Israeli Strikes
June 2025 saw targeted Israeli operations killing:
- Major General Hossein Salami (IRGC chief).
- Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Aerospace Force leader.
- Commanders of Quds Force, including Saeed Izadi & Benham Shariyari.
Israeli strikes aim to disrupt IRGC’s nuclear, missile, and proxy capabilities—but strategy raises questions about regional escalation and resilience .
Political Influence & Repression
Post-1989, IRGC officers occupied government positions, creating a political-military hybrid that dominated Iran’s political landscape.
It played decisive roles in removing President Bani-Sadr, suppressing 2009 protests, and maintaining loyalty to the Supreme Leader.
It operates intelligence wings and paramilitary Basij units to stifle protests, with documented cases of torture, forced interrogations, and abuses.
Risk vs Resilience
Experts warn that while targeting IRGC leadership may disrupt operations, it could backfire—unifying Iran against foreign aggression, fueling hardliner dominance, or prompting asymmetric retaliation.
Israel claims delays in Iran’s nuclear program, but the surprise could be IRGC’s capacity to regenerate leadership and escalate proxy operations.
Why This Matters Now
- Israel–Iran direct conflict has escalated beyond cyber and proxy tit-for-tat to actual military strikes .
- Global security concerns: increased threat of IRGC sleeper cells and terrorism in the West the-sun.com.
- Domestic Iranian stability: assassinations stoke paranoia and may fracture public trust—Khamenei’s bunker scenarios are worrying .
- Iran’s economic entrenchment means sanction-driven decapitation won’t cause collapse without deeper structural change wsj.com.
- Proxy complexity: hit one proxy, another escalates. IRGC’s web spans Gaza to Yemen.
What Users Are Searching For
- “IRGC meaning” – Who they are.
- “When founded IRGC” – Looking for history (1979).
- “IRGC-led by who” – Searching Salami, Qaani.
- “IRGC proxies” – Understanding Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis.
- “IRGC business empire” – Economic interests.
- “Israel hits IRGC commanders” – Real-time conflict news.
- “US terrorist designation IRGC” – Terror listing details.
- “What happens if IRGC targeted” – Risk analysis for global fallout.
What Happens Next
- Proxy escalations: Attacks via Hezbollah/Houthis/hybrid warfare.
- Internal consolidation: Khamenei leans on IRGC to suppress public backlash.
- Global sanctions: More international pressure; Iran’s economy feels the strain.
- Covert warfare intensifies: Cyber operations, cyber‑espionage, and sleeper cell activations in the West.
- Diplomatic shifts: Calls for negotiation could grow louder as Israel pushes deeper.
The IRGC began as a revolutionary guard, but today it’s Iran’s all-purpose power center—an armed force, an economic empire, a political machine, and a regional disruptor.
Its deep roots in Iran’s identity make it simultaneously a target and a shield. Targeting it risks national unity, proxy wrath, and destabilization—but ignoring it invites further IRGC-driven regional chaos.
As Israel strikes continue, the world watches—and hopes intelligence, diplomacy, and restraint prevail. But with the IRGC at the centre, that balance remains icy and unpredictable.
