Imagine a riot police that also incubates conservative religious values, shapes educational curricula, and even runs sports clubs and recreational centers.
From establishing new provincial headquarters to deploying hundreds of thousands of troops and militia personnel on emergency duty, the Guards are seemingly using the crisis as an opportunity to expand their power at the local level.
Saeid Golkar examines the escalating tension between Iran and the United States after Iranian missiles struck two US bases in Iraq following the US missile strike that killed Iranian general Soleimani.
