“Recruitment, he added, could take place at mosques attached to the Basij militia in Tehran, and in city squares where pro-establishment rallies have been held”

“The Basij is a volunteer militia controlled by the IRGC, with an estimated one million members. It is often deployed on the streets to suppress dissent”

“Israel has said it recently targeted several Basij checkpoints”

“The BBC has spoken to four eyewitnesses who said they had seen children under the age of 18 at checkpoints in Tehran, the nearby city of Karaj, and the northern city of Rasht”

“Golnaz, who is in her 20s in east Tehran, told the BBC that she had seen armed teenagers taking part in Basiji forces when she went out after an air strike on 9 March to see what was going on”

“Sara, also in her 20s in west Tehran, told the BBC that she saw a teenager at a checkpoint on 25 March. 'He was holding a gun at the cars. He and the others were stopping cars and searching them. He was short and slight.'”

“Last month, ordinary Iranians told the BBC about security checkpoints around the capital, where they said residents were stopped and searched”

“Those who have been able to connect to the internet have told the BBC that the practice is still going on, and that some patrols go around with the Islamic Republic's flag and loudspeakers during the night”

“Some have told the BBC that they have seen teenagers at checkpoints in cities other than Tehran as well”

“Peyman, who is in his 20s and lives in Karaj, told the BBC that he saw what he called a 'teenage boy' with a Kalashnikov at a checkpoint on 30 March. 'His moustache hadn't fully grown,' he said”

“Tina, who is also in her 20s and comes from Rasht, told the BBC that she saw young people on duty in a square in the city on 14 March. 'They were wearing masks so their faces were covered. But it's obvious that they are children; I can see it from their eyes. They are short as well. They stand in front of those adult forces. I feel pity for them and I get scared at the same time.'”

“In a report on the recruitment campaign, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said it was a 'grave violation of children's rights and a war crime when the children are under 15'”

“Bill Van Esveld of HRW said, 'What this boils down to is that Iranian authorities are apparently willing to risk children's lives for some extra manpower.'”

“Pegah Banihashemi, an expert in constitutional law and human rights at the University of Chicago Law School, told the BBC: 'Under international law, the use of children in security or military roles is tightly constrained and, in many contexts, unlawful.'”

“Dagres about international law and desperation”