IRGC's Exploitation of Children and Human Trafficking in Iran

• •IRGC exploits Iranian and migrant children as soldiers, according to the U.S. State Department.
• •The recruitment of minors for military purposes constitutes a severe violation of child rights.
• •The Iranian regime faces little accountability for its human trafficking and exploitation practices.

The U.S. State Department's 2026 Trafficking in Persons report reveals that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has exploited Iranian and migrant children as soldiers. The report documents the IRGC's recruitment of minors for military operations, including the deployment of Afghan, Pakistani, and Syrian children. This exploitation is part of a broader pattern of human trafficking facilitated by the Iranian regime, which uses vulnerable populations for military and economic gain. The IRGC's actions include forcibly recruiting children and providing support to non-state armed groups that also utilize child soldiers. The report highlights the impunity enjoyed by Iranian officials involved in these trafficking crimes. The situation reflects a severe violation of child rights and international law, with the recruitment of children under 15 classified as a war crime. Despite international condemnation, the Iranian regime continues these practices with little accountability.