The Basij Show of Force in the Capital

Even though that part of Iran’s media that is affiliated to the security forces have for some time now been broadcasting the end of the 2009 protests (which they call the sedition), and proclaim that on December of that year people poured into the streets and crushed the sedition, and even as social and political activism in the country faces the same old restrictions, Mohammad Rasool Allah military base belonging to the Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) announced that it would soon be holding exercises in Tehran that mimic the 2009 street protests that erupted against the official results of the 2009 presidential election. This type of military maneuvers have in the past been held by Basij militiamen in other provinces of Fars, Mazandaran and Golestan. During the exercises sharp-shooters and heavy arms were used to attack imaginary protestors.

Fars news agency, which is closely linked to the security-military establishment, announced the upcoming exercises in its interview with Mohammad Reyvandi, the coordination deputy of the Rasool Allah military base belonging to the IRGC. “Military maneuvers by Beytolmoghadas and Kowsar brigades will be held in Tehran and will include operations for the defense of the neighborhoods and the districts of the city, and also the provision of emergency and rescue services. In the past we only had the Ashoora and Alzahra brigades while today we practically also have the Beytolmoghadas and Kowsar brigades. Their structure and organization are the same as those of the Ashoora and Alzahra brigades. Today, the Ashoora and Alzahra brigades have been transferred to resistance bases while the Beytolmoghadas and Kowsar brigades are active at the city district resistance levels. In addition to the programs for the city neighborhoods and districts, a centralized exercise has also been planned which will be implemented by the Tehran Beytolmoghadas and Kowsar brigades. This is in addition to the projects that the brigades are pursuing at the resistance districts, which will include gatherings and exercises for the purpose of increasing readiness,” he said.

He continued, “We shall have one major general exercise in Tehran for Beytolmoghadas and Kowsar brigades and parts of the exercise will include defense of the city neighborhood and districts, and also the provision of emergency and rescue services. Kowsar brigades are made up of Basiji women whose primary responsibility is to provide emergency and rescue services. In the Tehran IRGC Force we have two types of brigades. One type is the Imam Hossein whose responsibility is defense of problems if they come up. Consequently, Imam Hossein brigades have been organized and are undergoing training. Their military exercise is planned to fit with defense programs. The other brigades are the Imam Ali security brigades which are the special forces for the defense of the city and the provision of security in the city. The training and exercises of Imam Ali brigades that are planned for the purpose of preparing them to increase their readiness to provide security for the city. These brigades undergo weekly training in their own bases and monthly training in the security units. The most important equipment that the Imam Ali brigades posses are those that are necessary for the defense of the city. All threats have been identified and plans have been drawn for dealing with them. The training that Imam Ali brigades undergo match the threats that are updated seasonally so that the necessary readiness is acquired. We cooperate with different organizations in the area of security but training is carried out by the Tehran Revolutionary Guards.”

Reyvandi continued, “The security of the city lies with the police but if need be, the Guards and the Basij get engaged and the Basij provides assistance whenever necessary. The Basij operate checkpoints and we have no plans to end this. If unforeseen developments take place, all checkpoints become active. Otherwise, checkpoints are set up weekly according to plans. Threats in Tehran are completely under surveillance. The Tehran IRGC has identified cultural threats in addition to the security and physical ones. In Tehran, 4 or 5 key threats have been identified, the goals have been established and cultural plans have been drawn up. In line with this, some 110 to 115 cultural projects to confront cultural threats in Tehran are being implemented in the various resistance districts of Tehran and the environs.”

The specific date for this “major” exercise has not yet been announced but knowledgeable individuals have said it will most likely take place on the anniversary of December 30, 2009 pro-government rallies. Some have said that in addition to boosting the morale of the Basij para-military ideological force, the military exercise also aims to create fear among the residents of the city, particularly at a time when calls for lifting the house arrest of the leaders of the 2009 movement (the Green Movement) have grown sharply since the June 2013 presidential elections that brought a relative moderate or centrist to the presidency.

Rooz Online