{"id":345208,"date":"2026-05-19T21:25:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T20:25:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=345208"},"modified":"2026-05-19T21:25:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T20:25:56","slug":"fearing-foreign-war-or-armed-uprising-irans-regime-arms-loyal-base-amid-economic-meltdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/economy\/fearing-foreign-war-or-armed-uprising-irans-regime-arms-loyal-base-amid-economic-meltdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Fearing Foreign War or Armed Uprising, Iran\u2019s Regime Arms Loyal Base Amid Economic Meltdown"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"IRIB
IRIB state television broadcast from Zahedan, May 16, 2026, showing regime-affiliated woman interviewed with an assault rifle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Three-minute read<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Iranian state television IRIB aired footage on May 18, 2026, of civilians \u2014 including women, teenagers and children \u2014 receiving hands-on training in assembling, loading and firing personal weapons during nightly pro-regime rallies in city squares. Khabar Online reported<\/a> the same day that similar \u201cdefense preparedness\u201d stalls have been erected in mosques and public spaces, teaching basic firearm handling to ordinary citizens. The broadcasts and events coincide with growing speculation about possible renewed ground operations inside Iran.<\/p>\n

State media have also shown repeated images of armed civilians at rallies since the conflict with the United States and Israel began. Schools already include \u201cdefense preparedness\u201d lessons from Grade 9 to 12, covering weapon safety, basic operation, civil defense and soft-war concepts. Earlier episodes on IRIB\u2019s Ofogh network featured live firing and machine-gun assembly, including shots aimed at an Emirati flag.<\/p>\n

Criticism Mounts Over Arming Minors<\/h2>\n

Social-media users and domestic critics have condemned the programs as \u201cpromoting militarism and violence in society.\u201d State-affiliated newspaper Sazandegi and website Asr-e Iran accused<\/a> state television of \u201cturning the national broadcaster into a barracks.\u201d Particular outrage has focused on arming children and minors, including reports of armed teenagers manning checkpoints.<\/p>\n

\n

"The harder the #terrorist<\/a> regime fights to survive through spectacle, the faster it hastens the very disintegration it dreads. The cameras keep rolling, the queues keep growing, and the endgame has begun," writes @MehdiOghbai<\/a>. https:\/\/t.co\/i1Z5vl4zKw<\/a><\/p>\n

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 18, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n