The Revolutionary Guards are the Iranian regime’s defense force against external and internal threats. This elite force, which numbers up to 200,000 members, comprises ground forces, an air force, and a navy. It is responsible for the missile and drone programs. In addition, it is responsible for security in the Strait of Hormuz. This includes the decision to close the strait or launch attacks on Gulf states. “In times of war, the Guard is the central power in Iran,” Hans-Jakob Schindler, head of the Berlin-based think tank Counter Extremism Project, told our editorial team.