By Allyson Horn, ABC
Rights groups say video appeared online showing children wearing camouflage uniforms and carrying assault rifles.
Photo: Supplied
“They have even handed guns to children,” reads the chilling message from Iran that has just popped up on my phone.
A woman in Tehran, who the ABC have called Parisa, has managed to make contact and is sharing her experiences of the war with the ABC.
She’s just confirmed what multiple human rights organisations have reported – that Iran’s regime is now recruiting child soldiers.
“The regime appears very afraid now,” Parisa says.
“It has weakened and its forces seem exhausted.
“There are many checkpoints set up across the streets. They have even handed guns to children and elderly men because they lack enough forces.”
Talking with people inside Iran is extremely challenging and dangerous.
Most foreign media, including the ABC, have been denied access into the country.
And since the start of the war there’s been a total internet blackout, cutting off Iranians’ communication with the outside world.
If people somehow do get connected online – through satellite or international e-sims – they risk jail if discovered by the regime.
The penalties would be even more harsh – including the threat of death – for someone caught speaking with western media, especially talking about anti-regime content.
But Parisa is incredibly brave and says she wants the world to know what’s happening inside her country.
“This regime is using civilians as human shields,” she says.
“Near our home, in a residential neighbourhood, they had established a ‘safe house’ which was targeted by Israel.
“They are completely shameless and show no concern for ordinary people.”
A member of a police force stands guard on a street in Tehran.
Photo: (Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)
Several human rights groups, including Amnesty International, say Iranian authorities have started recruiting children as young as 12 for the country’s security forces, that have been degraded by American and Israeli attacks.
A recruitment notice posted on state media has called for volunteers from the age of 12 to join the Basij forces – a paramilitary group of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – to carry out duties in intelligence gathering, patrols, checkpoints and stop and search operations.
Amnesty International says it has analysed 16 photos and videos posted in recent weeks, that appear to show children wielding weapons, including assault rifles, at checkpoints, or in military rallies.
Human Rights Watch says the use of children to become homeland defending combatants is a grave violation of children’s rights and a war crime, when children are under the age of 15.
On Thursday Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf posted on X that a “sweeping campaign [had] brought forward around 7 million Iranians” in one week alone, “who have stepped up and declared they’re ready to pick up arms and stand in defence of our nation”.
Iranians on the brink
The massive military recruitment coincides with an escalation of threats by US President Donald Trump to destroy civilian infrastructure in Iran or deploy troops for a ground invasion.
Trump has set a deadline of April 7, AEST, for Iran to make a deal to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, or he’s threatened to “completely obliterate” Iranian power plants, oil wells and even water desalination plants.
Recruitment notice posted on state media calling for volunteers from the age of 12 to join the Basij forces.
Photo: Supplied
Residents in Tehran who’ve spoken with the ABC, like a man we’ll name Reza, say they’re terrified of America’s plans for the war.
“People in major cities are so scared after hearing this threat by Trump knowing such an attack on infrastructures will make their already-difficult live even more miserable,” Reza says.
“Having no electricity, no water in the tap, no gas in the gas stations, will be intolerable. And people are already thinking, what will be the point of Trump by doing so?
“If Trump ever takes such a brazen action, it will make the Iranian people hate the US for longer than the end of Trump’s presidential term.
“He will definitely lose Iranian people’s trust in him.”
The American leader has also repeatedly said his administration is in negotiations with Iran to end the war, despite Tehran denying there are direct talks.
At the same time, thousands of extra US troops have been deployed to the Middle East, and the Pentagon is reportedly planning for weeks of ground operations.
A man from Tehran who the ABC have called Navid, says Iranians will rally around their flag to protect their land, if America puts troops on the ground.
“Many people strongly oppose this. If they deploy ground troops or try to take Iranian territory, it would be a mistake,” he says.
“People of all political views – even monarchists – are against this.
“People are exhausted. They have no jobs, no money, and are under pressure from every direction.
“Stress levels are extremely high. It feels like Syria now. When I go out to buy bread, I don’t know if I’ll make it back home safely.”
A bridge in Karaj Iran was damaged amid US-Israeli strikes.
Photo: (Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)
Navid also says the mood of ordinary Iranians is deteriorating the longer the war drags on.
He says people are experiencing severe fuel and food shortages, electrical blackouts, and that millions of people have been displaced.
Iran’s Health Ministry says more than 2,000 people have been killed by American-Israeli attacks since the war began in late February, including 212 children.
Navid is an anti-regimist and had hoped war would topple the authoritarian rule that’s oppressed many Iranians for nearly 50 years.
But that hasn’t happened, and he now doesn’t understand what the war has achieved.
“Small businesses are in terrible condition, and employees are even worse off,” he says.
“Many young people are unemployed. They have no future.
“Everyone feels depressed and drained.
“I’m personally under intense stress. When I walk down the street, I constantly feel like something might explode nearby at any moment.”
People attend a funeral ceremony in Tehran, Iran.
Photo: (Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)
Parisa feels the same sense of constant fear and dread.
“Last night, a strike hit right at the corner of our street,” she says.
“The building across from our home had all its windows shattered. Thankfully, God protected us.
“Our entire building shook, and car alarms in the parking garage went off.
“We were terrified.
“But we hope Trump will continue until this regime falls.”
– ABC