"Come, and we will bury you"... Iran uses even children as 'human shields'

[Financial News] As President Donald Trump has signaled the destruction of civilian facilities in Iran and deployed elite troops to the Middle East, Iran appears to be placing civilians at the front as "human shields."
According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), footage was recently released showing a military parade on Kharg Island. Kharg Island is a key hub for Iran's crude oil exports and has been cited as one of the main potential targets for the United States military.
The video shows large formations of fully armed troops assembled on the island. Among them stand not only female soldiers but also children.
Some participants wore headbands inscribed with the phrase "fight to the death" as they took part in the parade. In addition, masked soldiers appear in the video and warn, "We have waited for this moment for years. We are 100% ready. Come. We have turned ammunition boxes into coffins. We will bury you in this land."
The footage is being shared on overseas social media platforms such as Reddit under the title "Ready to meet Americans."
At the same time, a mobilization campaign known inside Iran as "Janfada" is also spreading. Keshet 12 reported on the 31st of last month (local time) that text messages encouraging people to volunteer for enlistment are being sent across Iran. "Janfada" combines the words for "life" and "sacrifice" and is understood to mean offering one's body in sacrifice.
The Basij, a paramilitary organization linked to Iran's leadership, is also reportedly recruiting people to take part in security-related activities under the banner of "Homeland Defenders for Iran."
Iranian authorities say the goal is to foster national unity in preparation for a possible ground deployment by the United States military, but critics argue that, in practice, civilians are being used as human shields.
According to media reports, volunteers will be assigned to duties such as intelligence patrols, military operations support, and manning checkpoints. However, because the minimum age for volunteers is set at "12 and older," it is being interpreted as a plan to mobilize minors for war.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a 65-year-old member of Iran's parliament, issued a statement marking one month since the start of the war. He said, "The enemy is openly sending messages about negotiations while secretly planning a ground offensive," and declared, "Our soldiers are waiting for the United States military to arrive on the ground so they can burn their lives away."
He went on to say, "The United States has turned what it failed to achieve on the battlefield into a list of 15 demands," making it clear that Iran has no intention of complying with Washington's conditions.
moon@fnnews.com Reporter Moon Young-jin Reporter