I need an education on Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps

[Lone_Star_Dem]

I'm afraid all I know about them is what I've read in Wikipedia and that they are the ones who captured the 15 British sailors earlier this year.

Does anyone here know more about them and the specific role they play in Iran than this?

I'm trying to explore the consequences of declaring them a terrorist organization.

[atreides1]

1. Here is some information

The Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (Persian: سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی - Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enghelab-e Islami), also known as the Guards Corps (Sepah-e Pasdaran), the Revolutionary Guards (Pasdaran-e Enghelab), or simply the Guards (Pasdaran), is the largest branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran's military. The present Chief Commander of the AGIR is Mohammed Ali Jafari, who was preceded by Yahya Rahim Safavi. Like many young Iranians during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, Iran's current president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was a member of the Revolutionary Guard, subordinate to the AGIR.

In English language media the force is also commonly referred to as the Islamic Revolutionary Guards or simply Revolutionary Guards. In the USA, the media uses the term Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRG) is the preferred term of the British Armed Forces and British media.

The AGIR is separate from, and parallel to, the other branch of the Iran's military, which is called Artesh (another Persian word for army). Hence, AGIR is equipped with its own ground forces, navy, air force, intelligence<4>, and special forces. It also controls Basij force, which has a potential strength of eleven million, although Basij is a volunteer-based force, and consists of 90,000 regular soldiers and 300,000 reservists.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. My thanks

It seems from all I've read they've evolved since 1979 to become a strong branch of the recognized military in Iran.

[OwnedByFerrets]

3. Someone correct me if I am wrong.....

I occasionally am, but cant they be compared to OUR marine corp?

[blondeatlast]

4. According to my knowledge, but not according to the K/L amendment. Great thread

on just this point (and why it was made) here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1912487&mesg_id=1912487