The Islamic Republic has signaled it will begin hunting dissidents and critics abroad with new momentum after state media announced on Monday the launch of the monitoring and intelligence system “Elaaj,” the same day Iranians who signed up for “Janfada” (self-sacrifice campaign) received an invitation to begin military training.
The aim of Elaaj, which translates to “cure,” is stated to be to “protect national security and the interests of the Iranian people against anti-patriotic, separatist movements and those promoting sanctions and military attacks.”
سامانۀ شناسایی و برخورد با فعالان خائنان خارجنشین آغاز به کار کرد
سامانۀ رصدی و اطلاعاتی «علاج» با هدف شناسایی و پیگیری افرادی که از خارج کشور علیه منافع و امنیت ایران فعالیت میکنند آغاز به کار کرد.
«علاج» با هدف پاسداری از امنیت ملی در برابر جریانهای ضدایرانی فعالیت میکند. pic.twitter.com/iUr5sovqnn
— خبرگزاری فارس (@FarsNews_Agency) September 14, 2026
Supporters of the regime are encouraged to submit information about dissidents abroad through Elaajm, who could then have their citizenship revoked, according to Fars News Agency. Though unclear what such a measure would look like, dissidents could face punishments that could also include “cutting off financial and media access for traitors living abroad.”
In addition to seemingly attempting to crack down on dissident voices internationally, the Islamic Republic has renewed efforts to expand the mobilization of its supporter base nationally.
Billboards, messages promoting joining the IRGC’s military branch
A source told The Jerusalem Post that some of those who registered to Iran’s Janfada had received text messages inviting them to join a military and relief training course. Screenshots of these messages have also circulated online, though it is unclear how many individuals received such texts.
Iran International also reported that a billboard promoting the training had been installed on Tehran’s Damavand Street. A statement published on Sunday by Janfada also claimed that preparations had been made to train and organize 1,000 “national resistance” battalions.
Security expert Roger Macmillan said that it was unlikely training would be carried out in the West, and the Islamic Republic would likely rely on Elaaj for transnational repression in Europe, the US and Australia rather than military mobilization.
پیگیری حقوقی و محدودسازی دسترسیهای مالی و رسانهای افراد متخلف، با تکیه بر پایش مستمر و هوشمند انجام خواهد شد.
«علاج» همچنین از مردم خواسته اطلاعات مربوط به این افراد را از طریق سایت https://t.co/L9u538BukW یا نشانی @alajgroup در پیامرسان بله و @AlajGroup4 در تلگرام ارسال کنند
— خبرگزاری فارس (@FarsNews_Agency) September 14, 2026
“Elaaj is overseas spying on Iranian families. This is similar to the early days of the revolution with people reporting on each other. Janfada is more akin to the internal ‘martyrs’ willing to train, prepare and die for the Islamic Republic,” Macmillan explained. “It is very much real and a new drive.”
Volunteer call to mobilize the youth
Macmillan stressed that Iran was attempting to mobilize youth with the messaging, offering weapons training, map reading and first aid skills needed for combat zones, as part of a campaign to expand Basij-style units beyond the “usual core” supporters.
The new brand of fighters will demonstrate to Iranians and the West that the regime “can still organize mass participation after months of tension,” despite the economic turmoil, war and violent suppression of protests, he said.
“It is a volunteer call, pushed through official channels and mass SMS. This is an official Iranian government campaign infrastructure, a political-military mobilisation message, not a neutral public-service notice,” he asserted.
An intelligence source in Iraq told the Post that he suspected Iran-backed militias in Lebanon and Iraq would receive the same invitation for training.
In April, the Post reported on Iranian embassies in the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Sri Lanka recruiting for the self-sacrifice campaign.
“All brave and distinguished children of Iran are invited to participate consciously and register in this campaign, adding another golden page to the book of honors of this ancient land and demonstrating that their hearts are bound to the dignity and greatness of their homeland,” the embassy in Britain wrote. “Let us all, one and all, give our lives in battle. Rather than surrender our country to the enemy.”
At the time, Jonathan Turner, chief executive of UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), told the Post that Iran would likely avoid legal consequences for the messaging as the expectations of those in the Janfada campaign were deliberately vague.
Dr. Lynette Nusbacher, a former senior lecturer in War Studies at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and head of the Strategic Horizons Unit in the UK Cabinet Office, noted that the vagueness used to protect the campaign in April would likely no longer do so, given that supporting the IRGC is potentially an offence under the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026.
She suggested that the five-month gap between the announcement of the self-sacrifice campaign and the start of training was likely due to damage to the regime’s messaging capabilities during the war and the time needed to rebuild them.
Nusbacher also assessed that the regime was seeking to revive the self-sacrifice campaign now because it is “desperate” to “establish their credibility with all their audiences at a moment when the regime looks… very badly damaged.”
