Key facts
- Iran's Education Ministry has moved examination centers away from sensitive or army infrastructure.
- New locations for exams include public halls and religious centers.
- Opposition sources claim IRGC and Basij forces are embedding themselves in schools, mosques, and hospitals.
- This alleged tactic aims to complicate targeting and deter strikes on military facilities.
Iran's Education Ministry has announced the relocation of examination centers situated near sensitive or military infrastructure to safer locations, including public halls and religious centers, according to Fars news agency. This move comes amid opposition claims that elements of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij have begun embedding themselves within civilian buildings such as schools, mosques, and hospitals.
These opposition reports suggest that widespread strikes on Basij camps and police stations have forced Iran's internal security forces to abandon their traditional headquarters. The alleged tactic of dispersing into civilian infrastructure across urban centers mirrors methods used by groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, intended to complicate targeting decisions and reduce the likelihood of direct strikes on hardened facilities. Independent confirmation of these claims has not yet been publicly detailed.
If accurate, this alleged shift in tactics raises significant concerns under international humanitarian law, as schools, mosques, and hospitals are protected sites. Embedding military personnel within these locations could compromise their protected status and increase the risk of civilian casualties. Opposition sources argue that the regime is prioritizing operational survival over civilian safety by dispersing into densely populated areas to deter further strikes or make targeting politically untenable.