Iranian Regime General Calls on Parents to Deploy Children at Street Checkpoints

TEHRAN (AP). Apr 7: A senior Iranian commander has ignited widespread concern after urging parents to send their children to man street checkpoints, even as such positions have come under repeated attack.

Gen. Hossein Yekta, a figure linked to the volunteer Basij force, made the remarks during an appearance on Iranian state television. In his address, he called on families to involve their children directly in what he described as frontline duties.

“Moms, dads, take your kids’ hands and go out on the streets,” he said. “Do you want your kid to become a real man? Let him feel like a hero standing right at the heart of the battlefield. Moms, dads, at night send your kids to man checkpoints.”

The comments have drawn alarm due to the risks involved. Checkpoints operated by the Basij—a paramilitary wing associated with Iran’s security apparatus—have been repeatedly targeted in airstrikes amid escalating regional tensions.

Human rights groups have long criticized the Basij for recruiting minors. According to Amnesty International, children as young as 12 have been used in such roles, with some reportedly carrying firearms. The organization has described the practice as a potential war crime under international law.

Yekta’s latest remarks also appear to contrast sharply with his stance during nationwide protests earlier this year, when he warned parents to keep their children off the streets or risk being shot.

The statements are likely to intensify scrutiny of Iran’s internal security practices, particularly regarding the use of minors in conflict-related roles, as tensions in the region continue to rise.