![\"Basij](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Iran-basij-forces-28122020.jpg\" "\\"Iran-basij-forces-28122020\\"")
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In the past few weeks, the frequency of meetings between Iranian state leaders with military personnel, particularly the Basij forces, has been noteworthy. Alongside the news and media reports that were published, an examination of the website Basij.ir<\/a> reveals significant outcomes in this regard.<\/p>\n The reason should not be attributed to the intense empathy of the system’s leadership in those who have grown increasingly disgruntled but rather in the first anniversary of the uprising that began with the death of Mahsa Amini on September 16 and continues to shake the regime until today.<\/p>\n In a meeting with Basij commanders on August 8, Hassan Hassan-Zadeh<\/a>, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responsible for Tehran Province, expressed concerns while emphasizing the significance of the regime’s paramilitary forces. He remarked, “If it weren’t for our emphasis on neighborhood-based security last year, the enemy’s endeavors in Tehran would not have been thwarted. We need to establish strong foundations, and this doesn’t solely involve missile construction.”<\/p>\n On August 10, Hamid Khodamdel<\/a> , the IRGC commander in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, articulated during a speech to a gathering of regime forces, “The current battle is one of determination and principles… The manifestation of this conflict extends beyond mere missiles, cannons, and tanks. Although the adversary remains unchanged, the instruments and arena of warfare have now reached our very homes.”<\/p>\n These statements mirror the profound apprehension and unease among state officials regarding the grassroots momentum that poses a direct challenge to the security and survival of the clerical regime. The regime’s nuclear and missile production capabilities are ill-equipped to counter this internal challenge. In fact, the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei recognizes that effectively addressing this concern demands the mobilization of Basij forces within the neighborhoods, streets, and alleys of Iranian cities.<\/p>\n The Basij force was established with the primary intention of securing the regime\u2019s hold on power and suppressing dissent. This paramilitary organization, formed during the Iran-Iraq war, has since become a critical instrument for the state to enforce ideological conformity and maintain control over the population.<\/p>\n #IranProtests2022<\/a>: Brutal suppression of the protesters by the regime\u2019s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), paramilitary Basij, State Security Forces (SSF), and plainclothes agents. #Iran<\/a> #MahsaAmini<\/a> #IranRevolution<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/N2tHsCM3nF<\/a><\/p>\n — NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 28, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n