Conscription System
All Iranian male citizens aged 18 and older are required to complete compulsory military service. Conscripts are randomly assigned to the Army, Law Enforcement, or the IRGC, and the assignment is not voluntary. Service duration lasts up to two years, depending on factors such as education level, marital status, exemption status, and location.
Conscripts generally perform non-military support roles, including clerical work, cleaning, and other basic labor. They do not participate in operations or decision-making and lack the training or clearance required for official IRGC membership. Accordingly, since they are not considered official members, the regime does not trust them with decision-making roles or sensitive responsibilities. They are coerced participants performing basic support tasks, not career operatives of the IRGC.
The following chart briefly illustrates the conscription process in Iran.
Individuals Fully Exempt from Conscription
Certain groups of individuals are fully exempt from mandatory conscription under Iranian law, based on factors such as religion, family responsibilities, or health. Also, regime officials most often misuse their influence to secure exemptions for relatives or associates.
The individuals who can be fully exempted from mandatory conscription include:
- Clerics and Religious Figures: Mullahs and seminary students
- Individuals with Severe Disabilities: Including paralysis, blindness, or chronic illnesses
- Sole Caretakers: Only sons responsible for supporting parents
- Sons of Martyrs and War Veterans: Exempted in recognition of family service
- Regime-Connected Individuals: High-ranking officials may secure exemptions for relatives or associates, often without legal basis
Consequences of Evading Conscription
Individuals who refuse or attempt to evade mandatory conscription face severe legal and punitive measures:
- They are labeled as “deserters” and can be arrested and imprisoned
- They are deprived of basic rights, including the ability to work, obtain official
- They are deprived of basic rights, including the ability to work, obtain official documents such as a driver’s license or passport, or register property or assets under their name
- Effectively, they are confined within the country with no ability to travel abroad
- Employers who hire these individuals can face legal penalties, creating additional social and economic pressures