“Janfada” Drill: Armed Volunteers, Basij Mobilization and the Unusual Appearance of Female Motorcyclists in Tehran

Tehran witnessed one of the most unusual public mobilization events in Iran in recent months as thousands of volunteers took part in the “Janfada-ye Iran”, or “Devoted to Iran” / “Self-Sacrificers for Iran,” exercise organized with the participation of the Basij paramilitary organization, an arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The large-scale event brought armed volunteers, military-style formations, women, young people, veterans and other civilian groups into the streets of central Tehran. Participants marched along a route connecting Imam Hossein Square and Enqelab (Revolution) Square, while images showed some volunteers carrying rifles and other long-barrel weapons.

Iranian state-linked media described the gathering as a demonstration of national unity, resistance and readiness to defend the country. Other reporting focused on the transformation of the campaign from a civilian mobilization initiative into a more visibly organized and, in some cases, armed network.

The event has attracted particular attention because of the appearance of female participants in military formations, including images and reports involving female motorcyclists. The images are especially notable because the legal and administrative status of motorcycle licensing for women in Iran has remained contentious. Iranian reporting earlier in 2026 continued to describe unresolved problems surrounding the issuance of motorcycle licenses to women.

The September 18 exercise therefore sits at the intersection of several major issues in contemporary Iran: wartime mobilization, the role of the Basij, civilian participation in national defense, women’s participation in state-organized security activities, public displays of firearms, and the government’s effort to demonstrate social cohesion during a period of heightened military tension.

September 18, 2026 | 5:45 pm