The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as Sepah or Pasdaran, is a multi-service primary force of the Iranian Armed Forces and a hybrid military-security institution. It was founded on May 5, 1979, by a decree from Ruhollah Khomeini following the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The IRGC was established to unify paramilitary forces loyal to the new government and serve as a counterweight to the regular military (Artesh), which was distrusted due to its loyalty to the former Shah. Its core mission, formalized in Article 150 of the Iranian Constitution, is to "guard the Revolution and its achievements".
The IRGC is independent of the regular army and reports directly to the Supreme Leader. It is structured with five service branches: Ground Forces, Aerospace Force, Navy, Quds Force, and Basij. The Quds Force is the IRGC's expeditionary arm, specializing in unconventional warfare and clandestine operations to project Iran's power abroad by arming and training non-state actors like Hezbollah and Hamas. Domestically, the Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia under the IRGC, instrumental in suppressing dissent and protests. The IRGC also controls Iran's ballistic missile program and a vast business empire, giving it significant economic and political power.
In a significant recent change, the United States designated the IRGC, including its Quds Force, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in April 2019. The European Union followed suit, formally designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization in January 2026. This designation is a historic step, as it marks the first time the US has designated a part of another government as an FTO.