Iranian military force created following the Islamic Revolution in 1979; according to the United Nations Security Council, involved in Iran's proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities and the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems; according to the European Union, has operational control over Iran's ballistic missile program and has undertaken procurement attempts to support Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear programs.

Responsible for protecting Iran's Islamic Republic government and extending its influence abroad; operates independently from and in parallel to Iran's conventional armed forces; reports directly to the Iranian Supreme Leader.

Provided a fortified site to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) for the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant; reportedly has a Nuclear Command that provides security at nuclear installations; reportedly involved in providing security for Iranian nuclear experts and has reportedly supervised them to prevent the release of sensitive information about Iran's nuclear program.

Through its Aerospace Force and a network of state-owned and private companies, oversees development of missiles and military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); operates a military space program, which launches satellites into orbit for military use and oversees the development of space launch vehicles (SLVs); SLVs employ similar technologies to those used in intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

Was responsible for the early development of Iran's offensive chemical weapons program during the Iran-Iraq War, according to the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency; since 2005, IRGC-affiliated Imam Hussein University has researched chemicals that have a wide range of sedation, dissociation, and amnestic incapacitating effects, according to the U.S. Department of State.

Affiliated universities Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences and Imam Hussein University have carried out research on viral strains that can be used as biological weapon agents.

Has provided financial and material support, weapons, and training to terrorist groups and militants in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Syria, Yemen, and elsewhere in the Middle East; has been directly involved in plotting terrorist attacks, according to the U.S. Department of State; has planned, orchestrated, or carried out terrorist attacks worldwide, often through its Qods Force.

Maintains offensive cyber capabilities.

Consists of seven main elements:

• Aerospace Force, which operates the IRGC's manned aircraft, ballistic missiles, drones, and anti-aircraft systems;
• Ground Force, a small conventional ground army that is also used for domestic security;
• Navy, a naval force which operates asymmetrically-armed small vessels near Iranian territorial waters;
• Qods Force, an expeditionary force responsible for overseas operations and managing foreign proxy groups;
• Basij Resistance Force, a paramilitary militia and reserve force involved in domestic security and repression;
• Intelligence Organization, a domestic and foreign intelligence unit that operates independently from Iran's intelligence ministry;
• Intelligence Protection Organization, a counterintelligence unit focused on IRGC internal security.

Comprised of more than 190,000 active-duty personnel; claims to be able to mobilize approximately 600,000 volunteers through the Basij; through the Qods Force-led Shia Liberation Army (SLA), is able to mobilize non-Iranians from countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan; deployed forces, including conventional ground forces and Afghan and Pakistani nationals, to Syria during the Syrian civil war.

Affiliated with several Iran-based universities and research institutions, including:

• Amir Al-Momenin University of Military Science and Technology
• Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences
• Imam Hussein University
• IRGC University of Command and Staff

Has business interests across the Iranian economy, including in the oil, construction, manufacturing, aviation and retail sectors.

Receives an allotment of Iranian oil production, which it sells to China through a network of front companies and vessels registered in third countries; coordinates oil exports through its Shahid Purja'fari Oil Headquarters.

Controls Khatam-al Anbiya Construction Headquarters (KAA); according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, uses profits from KAA's construction of infrastructure to fund illicit activities including weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation and support for terrorism.

Controls Bonyad Taavon Sepah and Bonyad Taavon Basij, ostensibly charitable organizations used to provide financial services to personnel and manage investment holdings.

Commander is Major General Ahmad Vahidi.

Other senior leaders include:

• Major General Ali Abdollahi (commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which coordinates Iranian military operations)
• Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Mousavi (Aerospace Force commander)
• Brigadier General Esmail Ghaani (Qods Force commander)
• Brigadier General Mohammad Karami (Ground Force commander)
• Rear Admiral Ali Azmaei (Ali Ozma'i) (Navy commander)

Former senior personnel holding high-ranking Iranian government positions include:

• Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (speaker of parliament)
• Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr (secretary of the Supreme National Security Council)
• Mohsen Rezaei (military adviser to the Supreme Leader)
• Yahya Rahim Safavi (military adviser to the Supreme Leader)

Former commanders include Hossein Salami, Mohammad Ali Jafari (currently head of the IRGC's Baqiyatallah Social and Cultural Base), Mohammad Pakpour, Mohsen Rezaei, and Yahya Rahim Safavi.

According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has been involved in attempts to produce beryllium domestically; according to the NCRI, several nuclear scientists involved in Iran's military nuclear activities were members of the IRGC, including Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Fereidoun Abbasi-Davani, and Mansur Asgari.

Sanctions

Named in U.N. Security Council resolution 1929 of June 9, 2010, which calls upon all U.N. member states to exercise vigilance over transactions involving the entity that could contribute to Iran's proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities or the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems.

Listed by the European Union on July 26, 2010, as an entity linked to Iran's proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities or Iran's development of nuclear weapon delivery systems; with some exceptions, EU member states must freeze assets owned or controlled by the entity, directly or indirectly, and prevent assets from being made available to it.

Listed by the European Union on February 20, 2026, as a terrorist organization; with some exceptions, EU member states must freeze assets owned or controlled by the entity, directly or indirectly, prevent assets from being made available to it, and prevent its leading members and operatives from entering into, or transiting through, their territories.

Designated by the U.S. Department of State on October 25, 2007, pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their delivery systems; added on October 25, 2007, to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list maintained by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), freezing the entity's assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibiting transactions with U.S. parties, pursuant to Executive Order 13382; also designated on October 13, 2017, pursuant to Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism; also subject to the Iranian Financial Sanctions Regulations, which restrict the use of the U.S. financial system for transactions involving Iranian entities.

Designated on April 15, 2019, by the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO); the designation allows for criminal and civil penalties against those that knowingly provide support or resources to the entity, imposes financial restrictions on the entity within U.S. jurisdiction, and prohibits its members and representatives from entering the United States.

Foreign parties facilitating transactions for the entity or otherwise assisting the entity may be subject to U.S. sanctions; foreign financial institutions facilitating transactions for the entity may be prohibited from opening or maintaining correspondent or payable-through accounts in the United States; also subject to heightened U.S. export license requirements (with a presumption of denial) due to involvement in activities related to WMD proliferation and terrorism.

Sanctioned by the governments of Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, restricting business and/or financial transactions with the entity and/or freezing its assets in those countries.

Listed as a terrorist group or a state threat/state sponsor of terrorism by the governments of Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, restricting business and/or financial transactions with the entity, freezing its assets in those countries, and/or allowing for criminal penalties against those that knowingly provide support or resources to the entity.

Listed by the Japanese government in 2025 as an entity of concern for proliferation relating to missiles and conventional and nuclear weapons.