Front Burner Who are Iran's Revolutionary Guards?
Mar 13, 2026
Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at the International Crisis Group, explains the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in concise, sharp detail. He outlines its reach as a parallel state. He traces the Quds Force and Soleimani’s regional network. He describes how the IRGC enforces control at home and builds resilience against strikes.
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Analyze The IRGC As A Political Economic Actor
- When analyzing Iran, treat the IRGC as a hybrid political-economic actor, not just a military branch.
- Focus reporting and policy on its economic holdings, media outlets, and parliamentary influence to understand leverage points (Ali Vaez).
IRGC Is A State Within A State
- The IRGC functions as a state within a state rather than a conventional military force.
- It controls broad economic sectors, media, political offices, and has veterans embedded across Iran’s institutions, making it the most organized domestic power (Ali Vaez).
IRGC Born From Distrust Of The Army
- The IRGC was created after the 1979 revolution to be exclusively loyal to the revolution because the Shah's army had sided with the people.
- Post Iran–Iraq War the IRGC expanded into reconstruction and mega-projects, which morphed into widespread economic and political control (Ali Vaez).