Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Day

The day of the IRGC is solemnly celebrated on the birthday of the third Shiite Imam Hussein ibn Ali . Imam Hussein was born on October 10, 680 (10 Muharram 61 years according to the lunar Hijri calendar). The tomb of Imam Hussein in Karbala , Iraq has become one of the main objects of pilgrimage for Shiites .

In 2002, it was decided to include in the Iranian calendar of the day the IRGC on the birthday of Imam Hussein ^[1] . This gesture was extremely important from an ideological point of view, since the IRGC is an ideal model of the Shiite army. The combination of the birthday of Imam Hussein, who is extremely revered by Shiites, and the day of the IRGC once again demonstrates the importance of the Corps for ensuring law and order inside the Islamic Republic and beyond.

Special Operations Force IRGC

The 1979 Iranian Constitution defines the functions of the IRGC in article 150:

The Corps of Guards of the Islamic Revolution, which was created in the early days of the victory of this revolution, functions to fulfill its role in safeguarding the revolution. The functions and responsibilities of the IRGC with respect to the sphere of duties and responsibility of other types of armed forces are determined by law with special emphasis on their fraternal cooperation and interaction ^[2] .

Initially, the creation of the IRGC was conceived as a temporary measure, a kind of support for the forces of the Islamic revolution. At the moment, the IRGC is the main striking force of the country, the Army is more focused on defensive actions ^[3] .

Having existed for some time, the IRGC showed its true value not only as a military force, but also as an ideological body.

Created from the detachments of revolutionary committees, supporters of Shiism and the power of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini , the IRGC became a kind of “Shiite army”, which has no analogues in the world. Khomeini thus explained the essence and importance of the IRGC:

The Islamic Revolution, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the sacred body of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, which, to be fair, was and will be the largest stronghold for the protection of the divine values ​​of our political system, needs you in peacetime and in wartime. Critically important and crucial days are ahead of us. Decisive years and months are still ahead of the Islamic Revolution, and it is imperative that those in the vanguard of holy war and martyrdom retain their combat readiness in all theaters of operations.