Missiles and Weddings: Iran Stages Its 'Sacrifice Couples' During Wartime

On May 18, 2026, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps organized collective wedding ceremonies in Tehran for nearly a thousand couples enrolled in the Janfada program, in response to threats of invasion from the U.S. and Israel. The couples arrived in military jeeps and exchanged vows under a portrait of Mojtaba Khamenei, with missiles in the background. These events take place amid a fragile ceasefire that has been in effect since the conflict began on February 28, 2026, while peace negotiations between Tehran and Washington continue.