Iran’s Military Readiness: How AK-47 Training is Preparing Citizens for Potential US Ground Troops

Translation resultAs the likelihood of U.S. ground forces being deployed grew, two channels of Iran’s state broadcaster aired news segments teaching citizens how to handle and fire personal weapons — from loading an assault rifle to pulling the trigger. The broadcasts appeared intended to spur public readiness for a possible nationwide mobilization.On the 15th and 16th (local time), an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officer appeared on the state-owned channel Ofogh and gave anchor Hossein Hoseini step‑by‑step instruction on handling and firing an AK‑47–type assault rifle. The officer disassembled and reassembled the weapon, demonstrated how to load and attach magazines, aligned the sights, showed firing procedures and chamber checks, and explained each step as if training a new recruit.After a round was loaded, anchor Hoseini pointed at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) flag on the studio backdrop, said “I’ll aim at that,” and then fired the rifle. It remains unclear whether live ammunition was used.On the 17th, another IRGC officer appeared on the same program, placed a PK machine gun on the table and demonstrated how to load its magazine.