Major General Hossein Salami: IRGC Commander & the Significance of the 2025 Memorial Ceremony

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC): Iran’s Military Backbone

The IRGC, established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has evolved into Iran’s most potent military and ideological force. Its primary objectives include defending Iran’s revolutionary ideals, safeguarding the Islamic Republic, and projecting Iran’s influence across the Middle East and beyond.

IRGC’s Military Capabilities

Over the decades, the IRGC has built extensive capabilities, including:

• Ballistic Missile Program: Iran’s missile arsenal is among the most advanced in the Middle East, with domestically developed ballistic missiles capable of reaching regional and potentially European targets.
• Asymmetric Warfare Tactics: IRGC’s use of proxy groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) exemplifies Iran’s strategy of plausible deniability and regional influence.
• Naval and Cyber Warfare: Iran has invested heavily in asymmetric naval tactics and cyber warfare to counter U.S. and Israeli military superiority.

IRGC’s Political and Economic Influence

Beyond military prowess, the IRGC has significant economic interests, controlling vast sectors through Khatam-al Anbiya Construction Headquarters and other subsidiaries, which fund and support military and ideological activities.