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

Female motorcyclists at the Tehran exercise

Images from the September 18 event showed female motorcyclists participating in the Janfada mobilization.

The appearance of women on motorcycles is particularly noteworthy because motorcycle licensing for Iranian women has remained a complicated legal and administrative issue.

Iranian reporting in 2026 continued to describe unresolved questions surrounding the issuance of motorcycle licenses to women. One report noted that although there was no straightforward statutory provision explicitly banning women from riding motorcycles, regulatory interpretation and licensing practices had historically created barriers.

Consequently, photographs of women riding motorcycles in a highly public, state-organized event created an unusual visual contrast.

The issue is not simply whether Iranian women ride motorcycles.

Some women clearly do.

The unusual aspect is their appearance in a highly organized public mobilization event connected with the Basij and national defense.

September 18, 2026 | 5:45 pm