Women volunteers train separately from men at designated centres as Iran expands a civilian mobilisation programme amid tensions with the US and Israel
Tehran, Oct 2026 : Iranian women volunteers underwent firearms and basic military training at a civilian facility in Tehran on Sunday, as authorities stepped up preparations for possible renewed military confrontation with the United States and Israel.
The training session was held at a centre established at Imam Hussein Square in central Tehran. Footage from the facility showed women listening to military officials and instructors before receiving practical instruction in firearms handling, including the use of handguns.
The initiative is part of a wider civilian defence programme launched by Iranian authorities to prepare volunteers to assist in the country’s defence in the event of a possible ground attack. Iran opened another civilian military training centre at Haft-e Tir Square on Saturday as part of the campaign.
Military officials have said volunteers will initially receive basic training before being offered more advanced courses. The programme is being conducted at designated centres in Tehran, with members of Iran’s armed forces involved in providing instruction.
Reports said the sessions cover weapons handling, basic defence techniques and emergency preparedness. Footage and photographs released from the training programme showed civilians practising with firearms, while other reports indicated that some participants were being introduced to longer-barrelled weapons, multiple rocket launchers and air-defence systems.
The training programme is being conducted separately for men and women. According to reports, women attend sessions three days a week, with each session lasting around three hours. Men undergo comparatively longer training sessions.
In addition to military instruction, participants are also being taught first aid and other emergency-response skills intended to help civilians respond during a crisis.
One participant, 45-year-old Raheleh Ghadiri, said learning how to protect her family and neighbourhood during wartime would help reduce her fears. Her comments reflected the broader emphasis being placed by organisers on civilian preparedness in the face of potential conflict.
The latest programme follows an earlier mobilisation campaign in which Iranian authorities encouraged citizens to prepare for national defence. In September, hundreds of thousands of people participated in a government-organised rally in Tehran linked to the “Janfada-ye Iran” campaign, under which volunteers were offered limited military and emergency-response training.
The expansion of civilian training comes amid continuing tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel. Iranian authorities have repeatedly warned of the possibility of renewed confrontation, while Washington and Tehran have continued to exchange warnings against further escalation.
The initiative underscores Iran’s efforts to broaden national preparedness beyond its regular armed forces and security agencies. By involving civilians in structured training, authorities are seeking to establish a larger pool of people with basic defence and emergency-response skills.
The programme also reflects concerns that any future confrontation could extend beyond military targets and affect civilian areas. As tensions remain elevated, Iranian authorities appear to be placing greater emphasis on preparing communities to respond to possible attacks, emergencies and disruptions.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
