Iranian state television has broadcast footage showing women and young girls being trained to assemble and disassemble AK-47 rifles during public defense sessions held in Tehran’s city squares.
The activities, which reportedly take place in the evening and at night, come amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States following recent military and diplomatic escalations.
Videos and images circulated in mid-May 2026 show female Basij volunteers and girls seated at tables practicing the field stripping and reassembly of AK-47 variants.
Instructors linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or Basij militia supervise the sessions in locations such as Tajrish Square and Vanak Square. Similar drills have occurred in mosques and other public spaces across several Iranian cities.
Public Drills Expand Across Cities
State television has described the sessions as part of a “public readiness to defend the country” campaign. Defense training on light weapons has included men, women, and teenagers. Authorities have recruited volunteers into programs such as the “Homeland-Defending Combatants for Iran,” setting a minimum age of 12 for some roles.
Amnesty International reported in April 2026 that children as young as 12 appeared at checkpoints and rallies carrying AK-pattern rifles in Tehran, Mashhad, and Kermanshah.
The organization cited eyewitness accounts and verified videos showing minors in military-style activities.
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Public kiosks in Tehran squares have offered open-air instruction. CNN correspondent Matthew Chance reported masked military instructors teaching civilians, including women and children, to strip and reassemble AK-47s at sites like Vanak and Hafte Tir squares. These displays have occurred alongside state-sponsored rallies.
State Television Demonstrations
Iranian broadcasters have aired segments in which presenters and instructors demonstrate rifle handling and firing. One program featured an East German MPi-KMS, a variant of the AK-47. Hosts have received instruction on air and, in some cases, fired the weapons.
The broadcasts have increased since a fragile ceasefire ended active fighting earlier in 2026. The drills follow US and Israeli strikes on Iranian sites that damaged nuclear facilities and other targets.
Iranian officials present the training as voluntary preparation for national defense against potential external threats.
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Why This Matters
The training sessions occur as US-Iran tensions continue over Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missiles, sanctions, and regional influence. A war that began in early 2026 involved US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and military targets. A ceasefire was announced in April, but negotiations on nuclear limits, missile capabilities, and sanctions relief remain ongoing, with Gulf states urging restraint.
Iran frames the civilian programs as necessary steps to build societal resilience. Rights groups and analysts have raised concerns about the involvement of children and the broader militarization of civilians. Independent verification of the full extent of the programs is difficult due to restrictions inside Iran.
The visible drills serve practical readiness goals while signaling resolve to both domestic audiences and external actors.
