Iran opens another temporary militia training base in Tehran
In short
Iran activated a temporary military training base at Haft-e Tir Square in Tehran on October 3, aimed at training members of the public to counter what the reports describe as external threats from the United States and Israel. The site is set up for air-defence equipment drills and obstacle-crossing exercises, and training is due to start in the coming weeks. Basij militia training commander Ali Kousari told a briefing that if enemies again “misjudge the situation” and attack, Iranians would resist together.
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Iran activated another temporary military training base in Tehran on October 3, according to three Chinese financial outlets. The facility is at Haft-e Tir Square and is intended to train members of the public to resist external threats from the United States and Israel, CLS, Yicai and Jiemian reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The base is equipped for air-defence equipment drills and obstacle-crossing training, the reports said. A similar camp had already been built at another square in Tehran, and training for the public is planned there and at the new site in the coming weeks, according to the same accounts. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
At a press conference, Ali Kousari, training commander of Iran’s Basij militia, stressed the importance of building civil defence across society. He said that if enemies again “misjudge the situation” and launch a new attack, Iranians will resist together, the reports said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Yicai and Jiemian attributed the account to CCTV International; CLS’s report did not name a source. The documents did not give the start date for the training, the number of participants, or the location of the earlier camp. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The opening of a second such facility in the Iranian capital, with public training planned in the coming weeks, points to an expansion of Iran’s civil-defence programme in a period the reports frame around possible new attacks by the United States and Israel. It follows an earlier camp built at another Tehran square. The documents give no casualty figures, exercises schedule or assessment from outside Iran.
Key facts
- Iran activated a temporary military training base at Haft-e Tir Square in Tehran on October 3. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The base is intended to train members of the public to resist external threats from the United States and Israel, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The site can be used for air-defence equipment drills and obstacle-crossing training. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Iran had earlier built a similar camp at another square in Tehran and plans to begin training the public in the coming weeks. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Basij militia training commander Ali Kousari said at a press conference that society-wide civil defence was important. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kousari said that if enemies again “misjudge the situation” and launch a new attack, Iranians will resist together. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Iran activated an additional temporary military training base in Tehran on October 3. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The new base is located at Haft-e Tir Square in Tehran. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The facility is meant to train the public against external threats from the United States and Israel, and offers air-defence equipment drills and obstacle-crossing training. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A similar camp had already been completed at another square in Tehran, with public training planned for the coming weeks. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Basij training commander Ali Kousari spoke at a press conference about the importance of society-wide civil defence and said Iranians would resist together if enemies again “misjudge the situation”. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- When exactly the public training at the new base will begin. All three documents say only that training is planned “in the coming weeks”, without a date.
- How many people are expected to be trained and who is eligible to take part. No document gives figures or eligibility criteria.
- The location and opening date of the earlier similar camp in Tehran. The documents refer to “another square” without naming it or giving a date.
- The original source of the account as carried by CLS. Yicai and Jiemian attribute the information to CCTV International, while CLS’s report names no source.