Attack on a Basiji security checkpoint on Pirouzi Street, Tehran, Iran, at 11:30 local time, on March 17, 2026. Israel Defense Forces, Iranian internet
Attack on a Basiji security checkpoint on Pirouzi Street, Tehran, Iran, at 11:30 local time, on March 17, 2026. Israel Defense Forces, Iranian internet
For decades, one of the most visible expressions of state power in Iran has not been found in government buildings or military bases, but in the streets.
Checkpoints operated by the Basij militia, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and police have long been embedded in everyday life in Iran. Positioned at major intersections, highways, and neighborhood hubs, they’ve functioned as constant reminders of the state’s reach into the private lives of its citizens.
