Iranian State Media Claims One Million Volunteers Mobilized Against Potential U.S. Ground Forces
Iranian state media outlet Tasnim News Agency reported on March 26, 2026 that Iran has mobilized over one million volunteer fighters in response to an ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign, with military sources threatening to make any U.S. ground operation catastrophic. The claim is unverified; Iran's total active military is internationally estimated at roughly 600,000. U.S. President Trump simultaneously suggested Iran was seeking a negotiated deal.
Iranian state-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, citing unnamed military sources, reported on March 26, 2026 that Iran has mobilized over one million fighters in response to what it characterizes as a U.S.-Israeli military campaign now entering its second month. The report described a surge in voluntary enlistment, particularly among Iranian youth seeking to join the Basij, the domestic security arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has previously faced international condemnation for the killing of protesters.
Iranian military sources quoted by Tasnim stated that the prospect of a U.S. ground offensive had generated what they called 'a wave of enthusiasm' to create a 'historic hell for American forces.' In direct reference to reported U.S. plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a military source told Tasnim: 'We are ready for both their suicide strategy to be executed and for the Strait to remain closed.'
Independent verification of the one million figure has not been established. International estimates place Iran's active-duty military at approximately 600,000 personnel, with additional reserve forces numbering in the hundreds of thousands, out of a total population exceeding 90 million.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) currently has an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 troops stationed in the region, according to figures cited in the report. An additional 7,000 U.S. troops, described as predominantly Marines and Army Airborne personnel, are reportedly en route to the region, amid speculation about a potential operation targeting the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's Kharg Island oil export facility.
Speaking at a televised cabinet meeting on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump characterized Iran as 'begging to make a deal,' describing Iranians as 'lousy fighters but great negotiators,' while expressing uncertainty about whether a diplomatic agreement could be reached. The remarks were reported by Al Jazeera Breaking News.
The Basij force referenced in the Tasnim report has been accused by human rights organizations of large-scale lethal violence against civilian protesters in prior years.
Note: This article draws from reporting by ZeroHedge citing Tasnim News Agency, an Iranian state-affiliated outlet. Claims from Iranian military sources have not been independently verified. Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/military/iranian-tv-declares-one-million-soldiers-have-mobilized-create-hell-american-forces
MERIDIAN: This feels like Iran trying to scare off any invasion by showing it can flood the battlefield with regular people, which probably means ordinary families in the region face more years of tension, shortages, and fear instead of quick peace. Trump's hint at talks suggests it might still end in a messy bargain rather than all-out war.
Sources (1)
- [1]Iranian TV Declares 'One Million' Soldiers Have Mobilized To Create 'Hell For American Forces'(https://www.zerohedge.com/military/iranian-tv-declares-one-million-soldiers-have-mobilized-create-hell-american-forces)