The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, or Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was founded after the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

Its goal was to protect the new regime from internal and external threats, acting as a counterbalance to the regular army.

It was created by Ayatollah Khomeini, the supreme leader of the revolution, and reports directly to the Supreme Leader, not to the president or parliament.

It is composed of ground, air, and naval forces, along with a powerful intelligence and special operations branch.

It also includes the Quds Force, which is responsible for operations abroad, especially in countries like Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon.

The Guard has been key in expanding Iranian influence in the Middle East, supporting groups like Hezbollah and Shia militias.

It has its own network of companies and controls key sectors such as construction, energy, and telecommunications.

The Guard also acts as an internal repressive force, suppressing protests and monitoring opponents of the regime.

The U.S. designated it as a terrorist organization in 2019 due to its role in terrorist activities and human rights violations.

Today, the Revolutionary Guard is one of the pillars of power in Iran, with significant military, political, economic, and ideological influence.