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Iran inaugurated the first military training center exclusively for women

Raluca Ioana Draghici

12 November 2026, 08:00

International

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Iran has opened a military training center for female volunteers in Tehran’s Azadi Square, amid tensions with the United States, a diplomatic deadlock and new U.S. sanctions. Dozens of participants, known as “Janfadayan,” took part in exercises involving assault weapons, wall climbing and zip-lining.

According to the Associated Press, Iranian authorities say the program is intended to prepare volunteers to defend the country in the event of a possible U.S. ground attack. The national campaign also includes training in emergency response and logistical support. Images and videos from the training sessions have been widely shared on social media.

The initiative comes after thousands of women and girls took part earlier this year in the “Devoted Daughters of Iran” rally, held in Tehran during a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. The demonstrators expressed their loyalty to Iran’s leadership and their willingness to defend the nation.

On the diplomatic front, Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei said that Tehran and Washington are not currently negotiating. Iran is seeking a U.S. response to seven conditions set out in an interim agreement in June, before reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming talks. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced increased economic pressure on Iran and a reduction in its oil revenues.

Context: after reciprocal threats, Iran intensified its messages and made the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz conditional on the U.S. response

Before the volunteer training sessions announced in Tehran, Iran issued warnings to the United States regarding maritime transport in the area, saying that it “will not allow” U.S. military vessels to enter the Persian Gulf. At the same time, Tehran intensified its messages preparing for a resumption of the conflict, mentioning new targets and weapons, national military exercises, and announcing the launch of 30 ballistic missiles.

Against the backdrop of the diplomatic deadlock, Iran held indirect talks with Washington through Qatari mediators and announced that the resumption of negotiations and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz depend on the acceptance of Tehran’s demands; Iranian officials even indicated a very short time window (within “no more than two days,” respectively a “seven-day” deadline proposed earlier), making the opening of the strait conditional on the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade and the suspension of sanctions on oil. In parallel, Iran also announced rewards for the killing or capture of U.S. military personnel who entered Iranian territory.