IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Information on the different branches of the Revolutionary Guards Corps (RGC) and the organizational structure of its military branch is currently unavailable to the DIRB. However, the following information on the RGC military branch might be noteworthy. According to The Military Balance, the military branch of the Revolutionary Guards Corps (RGC) is divided into ground and naval forces (1993, 109). As well, World Defence Almanac states that the RGC has an air corps (Jan. 1990, 164), and Newsday reports on the gradual incorporation of RGC patrol boats into the regular navy by the government of Iran (19 Mar. 1991, 4).
Referring to the promotion of "some 28" senior commanders of the RGC to the ranks of brigadier- and major-general, the British Broadcasting Corporation quotes the Iranian leader's representative to the RGC as stating that "[a]ll regular personnel of the [RGC] will have received military ranks by the end of the next [Iranian] calender year, March 1992" (20 Feb. 1991). Newsday also reports on the introduction of regular military ranks and insignia to the RGC (19 Mar. 1991, 4).

Additional information on the above subject is currently unavailable to the DIRB.

References

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 20 February 1991. "In Brief General; Iran IRGC Commanders to Get Promotion." (NEXIS)

World Defence Almanac 1989-90. Vol. 14, No. 1. 1990. Bonn: Mönch Publishing Group.

Newsday. 19 March 1991. Josh Friedman. "Preaching Moderation Is In; With Ayatollah's Help, Rafsanjani Puts Radicals on Sidelines." (NEXIS)

The Military Balance 1992-1993. 1993. London: The International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Attachments

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 20 February 1991. "In Brief General; Iran IRGC Commanders to Get Promotion." (NEXIS)

World Defence Almanac 1989-90. Vol. 14, No. 1. 1990. Bonn: Mönch Publishing Group, 164.

Newsday. 19 March 1991. Josh Friedman. "Preaching Moderation Is In; With Ayatollah's Help, Rafsanjani Puts Radicals on Sidelines," pp. 1-5. (NEXIS)

The Military Balance 1992-1993. 1993. London: The International Institute for Strategic Studies, pp. 108-110.