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![[Iran Revolutionary Guards]](../images/i/ir^agir.gif)
image by Zoltan Horvath,
1 December 2014
See also:
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
1357 year-conversion note: below the IRGC logo, the Arabic numerals on IRGC
flags are ۱۳٥۷ or 1357. As most Arab countries use the A.H. (Anno
Hegirae/Hijri/Haraj/Hijrah — 'Year of the Hajrah') calendar, 1357 AH is
equivalent to the Western 1938 AD/CE (Gregorian calendar). [A.D. = "Anno Domini"
which is Latin for "in the year of the Lord" or since the birth of Jesus; also
called the "Gregorian calendar". "C.E." means "Common Era" and is the same as
the Gregorian calendar.] However, Iran uses the "Solar Hijri" (S.H.) calendar --
therefore 1357 SH = 1979 AD/CE. [1979 was the year of the Jan.-Feb. 1979 Iranian
"Islamic Revolution" that overthrew the Pahlavi monarchy and replaced it with
the "velayat-e-fagih" or "rule of the jurisprudence" as espoused by Shia-Muslim
"Supreme Leader" Imam R.M. Khomeini, who returned from French exile to Tehran on
1 Feb. 1979.] The Hijrah ("migration") occurred in 622 CE, the year when the
Muslim prophet Muhammad and his followers migrated from Mecca to Medina, Arabia.
So, 1 S.H. started on March 18, 622 CE (the day of the Spring Equinox), while 1
A.H. started a couple of months later on July 16, 622 CE (the first day of the
Arab lunar month of Muḥarram). In the A.H. lunar-calendar there are 354 days
(with 355 days in a Leap Year), whereas the S.H. solar-calendar (Shamsi or
Khorshidi calendar) has about 10-11 more days or 365 days (with 366 days in a
Leap Year} -- which is equal to the Gregorian AD/CE 365/366 solar-calendar year.
It can be confusing in making a correct conversion between AH/AD dates in Iran,
because it used the AH lunar-calendar pre-1930 but soon thereafter switched to
the SH solar calendar. For the easiest date-conversion calculation, consult an
on-line AH/AD calendar-conversion calculator.
William Garrison, 6
December 2024
Ceremonial flag
image located by William Garrison, 30
August 2019
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
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
Infantry Brigade of Nineveh
images located by
William Garrison,
8 November 2024
Source:
https://www.tehrantimes.com
While similar to the original IRGC derafsh (ceremonial) flag, in this flag variant, below the usual IRGC logo there is an additional phrase that identifies this flag as for the "Infantry Brigade of Nineveh" Sepah-e, (Persian: تیپ پیاده نینوا ). [Persian: Nineveh/Neynava; Arabic: Neynwa]. "Sepah-e Neynava" is a large-sized military unit (this "corps" is smaller than an "army"), of which this Infantry Brigade is part. This Sepah-e (corps) is currently based in Golestan Province in northern Iran along the Turkmenistan border.
This flag was observed in a "Tehran Times" online article revealing the death of
this brigade's commander in a gyroplane/gyrocopter accident on 4 Nov. 2024.
According to my Tehran source, each provincial Sepah-e military unit (of which
there were at least 30 in 2024) may create its own derafsh, and, apparently,
each military sub-unit (such as this infantry brigade) may create its own, too,
based upon the whim of a unit commander. Not all Sepah-e commands are named
after the province that they are located in. Here, "Nineveh" is an old Persian
alternative name for "Karbala" (Iraq), where in 680 CE the Shia Imam Hussein was
killed in battle. There is a "Nineveh Governorate" (province) in northern Iraq,
but it is 636 km northwest of Karbala. In Jonah 2-10, The Bible, the Lord
directs Jonah to travel to Nineveh (perhaps nearer Mosul than Karbala) to preach
a message of repentance against their sinful ways; he was delayed after being
temporarily swallowed by a whale before reaching Nineveh! This high-seas,
action-packed journey is also mentioned in the tenth chapter, "Yunus" (Arabic
for "Jonah"), of the Muslim holy book: the Quran. [In similar fashion, the
"Sepah-e Quds" or "Quds Force" (Jerusalem) — an Iranian military unit that
operates outside of Iran (such as in the Levant) -- has its own flag as shown in
FOTW.]
William Garrison,
8 November 2024
Command of the General Provost & Military Police
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
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
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
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
![[Iran Revolutionary Guards]](../images/i/ir^pasdr.gif)
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
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
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
![[Iran Revolutionary Guards]](../images/i/ir^pasn.jpg)
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
![[Iran Revolutionary Guards]](../images/i/ir^revgd.gif)
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
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
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
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
Rival to Israel" flag
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
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
image
located by
William Garrison, 24 December 2024
A horizontal flag of the Iranian "Basij (Student) Mobilization" (Persian:
بسیج دانشجویی) [English pronunciation reading right-to-left: "besij
daneshjuyi"]; it was founded in Nov. 1988 with the scope of promoting the
theocratic principles of the Iranian revolution (Jan.-Feb. 1979 = "rule of the
jurisprudence") and Shia Islam.
William Garrison, 24 December 2024
The "Basij" militia of Iran are comprised of both high-school and college
students. Here is a photo of a yellow variety of their "Basij" school flag; c. 1 Dec. 2023.
Source:
https://www.memri.org
William Garrison, 8 December 2023
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
.gif)
image by
William Garrison,
3 June 2023
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
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
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
image located by Esteban Rivera, 27 November 2023
based on photo
and 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,
4 February 2025
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
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)
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
