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Pasdaran - Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, Iran

Last modified: 2024-10-19 by ian macdonald
Keywords: iran revolutionary guards | pasdaran |
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[Iran Revolutionary Guards] image by Zoltan Horvath, 1 December 2014


See also:


About the flag

An Iran "Pasdaran" (or Iran Revolutionary Guards) flag. It is the similar to Iran Army (Basij) flag. The difference between these 2 flags is that the Basij flag includes the wording of "NIROUYE MOGHAVEMATE BASIJ-E SEPAHE PASDARAN" at the bottom of the Pasdaran emblem. That makes the flag special for the Basij as the Basijis work under supervision of the Pasdaran.
William Garrison, 31 August 2006

The Pasdaran (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps) are a parallel military outside the regular armed forces. The Basij is a paramilitary force (militia-like) under the command of the Pasdaran. For more information see see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Revolutionary_Guards_Corps.
M. Schmöger, 17 September 2006

The Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (Persian: سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی ‎ / Sepāh-e Pāsdārān-e Enqelāb-e Eslāmi), often called Revolutionary Guards, is a branch of Iran's military, founded after the Iranian revolution on 5 May 1979. Whereas the regular military (artesh) defends Iran's borders and maintains internal order, according to the Iranian constitution, the Revolutionary Guard (pasdaran) is intended to protect the country's Islamic system. The Revolutionary Guards state that their role in protecting the Islamic system is preventing foreign interference as well as coups by the military or "deviant movements". The Revolutionary Guards have roughly 125,000 military personnel including ground, aerospace and naval forces. Its naval forces are now the primary forces tasked with operational control of the Persian Gulf.

It flag is blue with yellow emblem. Image of flag: http://www.digarban.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/internal_images_615maxwidth/images/5/139302101203438972643644.jpg
Zoltan Horvath, 1 December 2014


Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Ceremonial flag
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps image located by William Garrison, 30 August 2019

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps image located by William Garrison, 12 September 2019

"Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enqelab-e Eslami = "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps" (IRGC)
William Garrison, 12 September 2019

Plain flag
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps image located by William Garrison, 12 September 2019

"Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enqelab-e Eslami = "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps" (IRGC)
William Garrison, 12 September 2019

Command of the General Provost & Military Police

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps image located by William Garrison, 14 October 2023

A blue-field flag of the Iran "Command of the General Provost & Military Police" (English translation of the Farsi slogan at the bottom line), a subdivision of the "Joint Staff of the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps" (IRGC); c. 2021.
William Garrison, 14 October 2023

IRGC Navy

IRGC Navy image located by William Garrison, 11 February 2024

The flag of the IRGC (Pasdaran) Navy. This blue-field flag has the standard yellow IRGC logo/emblem and beneath it the Farsi slogan (reading right-to-left): "niru-ye darayi-e" which in English means "navy". The full official name is: نیروی دریایی سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی
or in English: "Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps"; c. 2023. [Remember, Iran has 2 navies: the "IRGC Navy" and the larger "Artesh Navy" – both have their own distinctively different flags.]
William Garrison, 11 February 2024

IRGC Navy image located by Bill Garrison, 27 June 2024

Source: https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/02/07/697751/Iran-defense-products-many-clients-Top-general

A "derafsh" or "ceremonial" flag tentatively titled as the "IRGC Jihad derafsh"; c. Fall 2023. The middle logo is that of the "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps" (IRGC) = [Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enqelab-e Eslami} or "Pasdaran", which can be seen immediately to the right of the logo. Usually, immediately below the logo is the year of the Iranian Revolution: 1979, but in Arabic numbers; however, that date is missing here. Instead, there is the shortened title: "Sepah-e Pasdaran-e" or "The Revolutionary Guards". In the top gray/grey area is a Farsi slogan, translated into English, as: "Allah loves those who kill them [disbelievers] for the sake of peace." On the right side there is the Farsi slogan: "Alhamdulillah" or "Praise be to Allah" or "Thank God". Inside the bottom gray area are two lines of slogans. The top-bottom slogan reads: "Allah will recognize believers as martyrs who die in the line of jihad against unbelievers." The second bottom line reads: "He (Allah) likes them [jihad martyrs] very much." The slogan on the left side reads: "May Allah work against the unbelievers". At the right hoist-side are five tabs through which a flag-pole can be inserted.

The "IRGC Jihad" flag (blue) displayed at the Imam Khomeini holy shrine and mausoleum that is located in southern Tehran in the Beheshte-Zahra ("Paradise of Zahra") cemetery, on Feb. 7, 2023. Photo credit: Tasnim news agency.
Bill Garrison, 27 June 2024

Armored Units
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Armored Units image located by William Garrison, 1 October 2020

This flag for the "Armored units" of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is similar to the main, blue IRGC flag, but this has an obvious "tank" design incorporated into the IRGC logo upon a green background. The IRGC military system (offensive) while similar is separate from the ARTESH military system (defensive).
William Garrison, 1 October 2020


Pasdaran military, Mahdi

[Iran Revolutionary Guards] image by Eugene Ipavec, 6 March 2009
based on photo

This flag welcomes the return of the Shia Muslim's "Hidden Imam", the Mahdi. IRAN Pasdaran Basij Islam Shia Military YA MAHDI Flag.
Based on: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180325092504&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1123
William Garrison, 22 February 2009


Basij

Basij image by William Garrison, 27 February 2024

A 4'x6' vertical version of the normal "Basij" flag but with a yellow border or frame around the IRGC logo. Beneath the Pasdaran/IRGC logo, the bottom line reads in Farsi (right-to-left): “Niru-ye Moghāvemat-e Basij” (Persian: نیروی مقاومت بسیج, "Resistance Mobilization Force"). While not shown on this flag, its full name is: “Sâzmân-e Basij-e Mostaz'afin” (سازمان بسیج مستضعفین, "The Organization for Mobilization of the Oppressed"). Basij (بسيج) = "The Mobilization".
William Garrison, 15 October 2024

Basij image by William Garrison, 13 September 2019

Beneath the Pasdaran/IRGC logo, the bottom line reads in Farsi (right-to-left): “Niru-ye Moghāvemat-e Basij” (Persian: نیروی مقاومت بسیج, "Resistance Mobilization Force"). While not shown on this flag, its full name is: “Sâzmân-e Basij-e Mostaz'afin” (سازمان بسیج مستضعفین, "The Organization for Mobilization of the Oppressed"). Basij (بسيج) = "The Mobilization".
William Garrison 15 Oct. 2024


Basiji military, Mahdi

[Iran Revolutionary Guards] image located by William Garrison, 22 February 2009

IRAN Pasdaran Basij Islam Shia Military YA MAHDI Flag
Source: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180325095103&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1123
William Garrison, 22 February 2009


Basij Sazandegi - Revolutionary Guard

[Iran Revolutionary Guards] image located by William Garrison, 20 December 2016

On http://www.basij.ir/parameters/basij/modules/cdk/upload/content/news/13476/sazanegi.jpg (archived here) is a picture of a blue flag with the logo shown here, as the flag of the Iranian Basij Sazandegi.
William Garrison, 20 December 2016


Basij militia, c. 2009

Basij militia, c. 2009 image located by William Garrison, 28 September 2019

ca. Nov. 26, 2009 street demonstration in Tehran celebrating 30th Anniversary the founding of the Basij militia. [From 1979 Iran revolution overthrowing Shah.] Flag contains red, stylized "Allah" inside white circle on green flag. Sadly, cannot read yellow slogan on flag.
source: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2009/11/30/Dissidents-infiltrated-Basij-Iran-claims/21741259597144/
William Garrison, 28 September 2019


Basij militia, c. 2015

Basij militia, c. 2019 image located by William Garrison, 5 October 2019

Flag, Iran, Basij militia, unknown use c. 2015
source: https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2015/11/20/438441/Iran-IRGC-Jafari-Paris-drill-Qom-Basij

Caption; Iran's volunteer forces, Basij, are holding the second day of major military drills on November 20, 2015 on the outskirts of the central city of Qom. ©IRNA
William Garrison, 5 October 2019


Basij militia, c. 2018

Basij militia, c. 2018 image located by William Garrison, 28 September 2019

Great Conference of Basij members at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azadi_stadium (Tehran, Iran), 4 October 2018, carrying green, red, & yellow flags. The green flag pertains to "Al Quds" (iJerusalem).
source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Iranian_Women_at_the_Great_Conference_of_Basij_members_at_Azadi_stadium_October_2018_03.jpg 
William Garrison, 28 September 2019


Basij militia, c. 2024

Rival to Israel" flag

Basij militia, c. 2018 image located by William Garrison, 22 September 2024

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/flags
A yellow-field flag purportedly used by the Iran Basij militia; c. April 2024 in Theran, Iran. The top slogan is in Hebrew and appears to read: "This is your rival" - it could be interpreted as being a threat by Israel to Iranians, essentially meaning "We Israelis are a threat to you". A faint English slogan at the bottom may read: "You're dealing with us!" - it could be interpreted as meaning that the U.S. is threatening Iran, too. The middle Farsi slogan roughly reads: "Rival to Israel's core" - a rather clear blustering comment that the Basij is threatening the existence of Israel. So why are all three languages on this flag? It may be that the Basij wants to remind Iranians that they are under constant threat from the "Big Satan" (Sheytân-e Bozorg) - the U.S., and the "Little Satan" (Shaytân-e Kuchak) - Israel. [Thanks to Martin Kramer for mentioning this concept to me.] So, all three different languages bring together an "artistic" collage of Hebrew-Farsi-English threat imagery - without the need for explicitly using the names of Israel and the U.S.; the different languages achieve that indirectly. [For clarification, the two portraits are not part of this flag, they are on red placards being carried in front of the flag.]
For the history of this "Satan" linkage, see: https://en.wikipedia.org.
William Garrison, 22 September 2024


Basij school militia-training

Pishgaman  Puyandegan images located by William Garrison, 30 September 2019

Flag, Iran, Basij school militia-training, 2 varieties: blue/Pishgaman & red/Puyandegan

In the mid-1990s the Iranian government began militia training for middle and high-school students. These students were being trained to serve after high school in the national Basij militia (which supervised the student's training). The middle-school students (12-14 year olds) served in the "Dynamic Resistance" (Pooyandegan" or "Puyandegan") units with the red flag ("Puyandegan" is on the bottom line). The high-school students (15-18 year olds) served in the "Pioneer Resistance" ("Pishgaman") units with the blue flag ("Pishgaman" is on the bottom line). Collectively, these students served in the "Scouts Forces" of the Basij. On the left-side of both flags is a logo with an ink-pen atop a book, with tulips symbolizing the martyrs of Iran.
William Garrison, 30 September 2019

 

Basij Students' flag image located by William Garrison, 8 December 2023

The "Basij" militia of Iran are comprised of both high-school and college students. Here is a yellow variety of their "Basij" school flag; c. 1 Dec. 2023.
Source: https://www.memri.org
William Garrison, 8 December 2023


Basij Students' Office at the University of Science and Technology

Basij Students' Office image by William Garrison, 3 June 2023

Source: https://www.memri.org/reports/irgc-aerospace-force-commander-general-amir-ali-hajizadeh-america-behind-all-wars-region
The white-field flag of the "Basij Students' Office" at the Iranian "University of Science and Technology" (which has multiple campuses); c. May 2023.
William Garrison, 3 June 2023

Basij Students' Office image by William Garrison, 3 June 2023


Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters

Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters image by William Garrison, 14 September 2019

"Qarargah-e Sazandagiye Khatam al-Anbiya" = "Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters" [IRGC sub-unit]
William Garrison, 14 September 2019


Muhammad Rasul Allah Corps

Muhammad Rasul Allah Corps image located by William Garrison, 9 October 2020

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Muhammad_Rasul_Allah_Corps_of_IRGC
William Garrison, 1 October 2020


Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force

Muhammad Rasul Allah Corps image located by Esteban Rivera, 27 November 2023
based on photo
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force or Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Air and Space Force, NEHSA, is the strategic missile, air, and space force within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran. It was renamed from the IRGC Air Force into the IRGC Aerospace Force in 2009."
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Revolutionary_Guard_Corps_Aerospace_Force

Flag with blue outer stripe

Muhammad Rasul Allah Corps image located by Esteban Rivera, 27 November 2023
based on photo
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/

Regarding this dark-blue field flag, the slogan beneath the center IRGC logo reads in Farsi: "niru-ye havâfazây-e" or in English as: "Aerospace Force". This is the IRGC unit that controlled the launching of various armed drones from Iran towards Israel starting on 13 April 2024. The light-blue field flag is normally associated with the "Aerospace Force".
William Garrison, 14 April 2024


The Quds Force

Quds Force image by William Garrison, 14 September 2019

"Sepah-e Quds" = "The Quds Force" [a sub-unit of the IRGC].
"Sepah-e Quds" in the bottom line of this gold-blue flag.
William Garrison, 14 September 2019

Quds Force image by Pete Loeser, 25 May 2022
based on photo located by William Garrison, 14 September 2019

The Quds Force (نیروی قدس), is a branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It is considered the elite clandestine wing of the Guard and specialize in unconventional warfare and military intelligence operations primarily in foreign countries. It is sometimes referred to as the Qods Force, or Jerusalem Force. It was organized shortly after the Iranian Revolution (1978-79), and its activities have centered around organizing, supporting, and sometimes leading local forces abroad.
It has been active throughout many countries in the Middle East, including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Yemeni Houthis, and Shia militias in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.
Reportedly the Quds Force reports directly to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei. The U.S. Secretary of State designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Quds Force as a Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) in 2019 based on their “...continued support to and engagement in terrorist activity around the world.”
Pete Loeser, 25 May 2022

See also: Al-Quds Brigade (Syria)


Religious green triangle flag

Religious green triangle flag image located by William Garrison, 14 November 2019

This green flag has a Pasdaran militia patch logo.
source: https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/victorious-iranian-revolutionary-guards-burn-a-us-flag-in-news-photo/103232305?adppopup=true

Caption: "Iranians Capture Al-Fao. Victorious Iranian Revolutionary Guards burn a US flag in Al-Fao Peninsula, Iraq, 15th February 1986. Smoke rises over the Iraqi oil installations burning behind. The Iranians launched a surprise attack against the Iraqi troops defending al-Fao. The Iraqi units in charge of the defences consisted mostly of poorly-trained Iraqi Popular Army conscripts who collapsed when they were suddenly attacked by the Iranian Pasdaran (Revolutionary Guard) forces. (Photo by Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images)" c. Feb. 1986

Of particular interest is that in the bottom-left corner side of middle green flag it has an Iranian Pasdaran militia logo. I believe it was printed on the flag when the flag was originally made, as the Pasdaran-logo image is in black-and-white which matches the overall white-black border frame on the flag. Also, I have never seen a black-white Pasdaran patch by itself.
William Garrison, 14 November 2019