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| National Police of Iran | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Police of Iran |
| Native name | نیروی انتظامی جمهوری اسلامی ایران |
| Abbreviation | NAJA |
| Formed | 1991 |
| Preceding1 | Shahrbani |
| Preceding2 | Gendarmerie (Iran) |
| Preceding3 | Islamic Revolutionary Committees |
| Country | Iran |
| Headquarters | Tehran |
| Chief1 name | Ahmad-Reza Radan |
| Parent agency | Ministry of Interior (Iran) |
National Police of Iran is the unified civil law enforcement force responsible for policing, public order, and internal security across Iran. Established by merger in 1991, the force operates under the oversight of the Ministry of Interior (Iran), coordinates with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian Armed Forces on security matters, and interacts with provincial authorities in Tehran Province, Isfahan Province, and other provinces. The agency's remit covers criminal investigation, traffic control, border security interfaces, and regulatory enforcement in urban and rural settings throughout Iran.
The formation of the agency followed consolidation of legacy units including the Shahrbani, the Gendarmerie (Iran), and the Islamic Revolutionary Committees after the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Post-revolutionary policing evolved amid events such as the Iran–Iraq War and political shifts during the presidencies of Ali Khamenei and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, prompting reforms that culminated in the 1991 merger decreed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s the force interacted with international counterparts during incidents like the 1999 Iranian student protests and coordinated responses to crises including natural disasters in Kermanshah Province and earthquakes such as the 2003 Bam earthquake. Leadership changes have involved figures linked to institutions like the Judiciary of Iran and ministries headed by officials from factions represented in the Assembly of Experts.
The agency maintains a hierarchical command with regional contingents in major provinces such as Fars Province, Mazandaran Province, and East Azerbaijan Province, and specialized units modeled after international policing frameworks like those in the United Kingdom and France. Specialized directorates encompass criminal investigations, counter-narcotics linked to operations against smugglers along borders with Iraq and Afghanistan, traffic police coordinating in urban centers including Mashhad and Isfahan, cybercrime units interacting with incidents tied to entities such as Telegram (software) and networks affecting public order, and border policing that engages with the Customs Administration of Iran. The command structure interfaces with the Ministry of Interior (Iran), provincial governors, and judicial authorities including the Islamic Revolutionary Court system.
Primary responsibilities include criminal investigation functions paralleling those of the Interpol liaison office, traffic regulation in metropolitan corridors like the Azadegan Highway, public order operations during demonstrations such as the 2009 Iranian presidential election protests, and coordination of counter-narcotics efforts confronting transnational trafficking routes into Pakistan and Afghanistan. The force enforces domestic statutes promulgated by the Islamic Consultative Assembly, executes court warrants issued by the Judiciary of Iran, and provides security for critical infrastructure including facilities overseen by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and transport hubs like Imam Khomeini International Airport. The agency also undertakes maritime law enforcement tasks in coordination with the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Persian Gulf littoral.
Uniform patterns draw lineage from pre-revolutionary and revolutionary-era designs seen in units such as the Shahrbani and adopt elements comparable to rank systems used in regional services like the Turkish National Police and Royal Malaysian Police. Rank insignia align with commissioned and non-commissioned structures; senior leadership titles correspond with positions recognized within the Ministry of Interior (Iran) framework. Distinctive badges reflect institutional symbols used by state organs including the Coat of arms of Iran and are employed on headgear, shoulder boards, and service medals awarded in ceremonies attended by officials from the Presidency of Iran and legislative delegations.
Operational equipment includes patrol vehicles such as sedans and SUVs used across provinces like Khorasan Razavi Province and armored carriers deployed for high-risk operations. Non-lethal crowd-management gear, communications suites interoperable with units of the Iranian Police Cyber Unit, and forensic laboratories coordinate with academic institutions such as the University of Tehran for forensic science support. Firearms and tactical equipment reflect procurement patterns engaging domestic manufacturers affiliated with state-owned enterprises and, historically, imports traced to suppliers in regions including Russia and China.
Recruitment is conducted through entrance examinations and vetting by bodies linked to the Ministry of Interior (Iran) and recruitment centers in cities such as Shiraz and Tabriz. Training academies provide curricula in criminal investigation, traffic management, and public order tactics; the academies maintain ties with higher education institutions including the Police University of Iran and vocational programs coordinated with provincial training centers. Specialized courses address counter-narcotics, cybercrime, and crowd-control methods influenced by training doctrines from allies and comparative models in Turkey and Russia.
The agency has been implicated in controversies arising from responses to demonstrations including the 2009 Iranian presidential election protests and later movements such as the 2019–2020 Iranian protests and the 2022 Iranian protests. Allegations by domestic groups and international organizations concerning excessive force, custodial deaths, and restrictions on assembly have involved scrutiny from entities like the United Nations Human Rights Council and non-governmental organizations that monitor rights in Iran. Judicial outcomes, internal disciplinary measures, and legislative responses by the Islamic Consultative Assembly have formed part of ongoing debates about accountability, transparency, and reform within the institutional framework shared with the Judiciary of Iran and other state organs.