What the IRGC is
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is one of two branches of Iran's armed forces, the other being the regular military (Artesh). Founded after the 1979 revolution as a regime-defence force, it has expanded into a parallel military with its own ground forces, navy, aerospace force, the paramilitary Basij, and the Quds Force for external operations.
Quds Force
The Quds Force is the IRGC branch responsible for external operations and the relationship with Iran-aligned armed groups across the region. It is the day-to-day operator of Iran's regional partner network — Hezbollah, Houthis, Iraqi militias under the Popular Mobilization Forces umbrella, and others. Its commanders are senior figures in the Iranian security establishment.
IRGC Aerospace Force
The IRGC Aerospace Force operates most of Iran's ballistic missile and drone capability, separately from the Artesh air force. This force is the principal vector by which Iran can threaten direct strikes on regional adversaries, and is the most likely instrument in any direct Iran-Israel exchange.
Sanctions and legal status
The US designated the IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation in 2019, the first time a state's armed forces received that designation. The label has practical effects (financial isolation, secondary-sanctions risk for foreign counterparties) and contested legal implications. Other jurisdictions have not matched the designation.