Iran Opens Tehran Military Training Base for Volunteers

Iran has inaugurated a new military training base in central Tehran where volunteers are expected to receive military training in preparation for a possible ground invasion by the United States, according to a report on the ceremony.

The inauguration took place on Saturday, although the exact calendar date was not stated. The event was presented as an act of defiance amid stated American threats against Iran and as part of Janfada, a government campaign also known as Sacrificials that is intended to encourage national unity.

Military preparation

The army is expected to use the new facility to train volunteers. A similar camp was recently established in eastern Tehran, while another training camp is located at Imam Hossein Square.

Ali Kowsari, identified as the head of training for Iran’s paramilitary Basij force, said the country’s military capabilities were currently sufficient to address domestic unrest. He added that those capabilities would be used against external threats.

“Regarding domestic unrest, the current capabilities of the armed forces are sufficient for now, and we do not see a need to expand those capacities,” Kowsari said at the ceremony. “However, with respect to external enemies, a synergy has emerged, and we will certainly make use of these capabilities to defend the Islamic Republic of Iran against foreign threats.”

Claims of broad participation

Officials said more than 500,000 people had registered for military training and were prepared to fight for Iran. The figure has not been independently verified in the supplied report.

Sasan Zare, a spokesman for the Sacrificial Volunteers campaign, said US citizens were present at the training camp at Imam Hossein Square. He also said the campaign was receiving requests from foreign nationals living in Iran who wanted to undergo training, take up arms and fight against what he described as the country’s enemies.

“They have come to Iran and are willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Iranian people and fight against the United States,” Zare told the crowd.

Authorities also claimed that more than 30 million people, described as roughly one-third of Iran’s population, had joined Janfada and were ready to sacrifice their lives for the country. The report did not independently verify that figure or provide details about how participation was counted.

Domestic backdrop

The campaign follows nationwide protests in Iran in January that began with economic concerns and developed into broader grievances, according to the report.

The report did not provide details of the alleged US threats, confirm any plan for a ground invasion, or explain the operational status and training arrangements at the new facility. It also did not establish the identities or number of US citizens said to be present, or the number of foreign nationals seeking training.