Arshia Maghsoudi

Arshia Maghsoudi (Persian: عرشیا مقصودی) is an Iranian individual publicly identified in early 2026 as an alleged member of the Basij paramilitary force, affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Background

Limited verified biographical details are available. A LinkedIn profile lists an Arshia Maghsoudi as a student at the University of Tehran, based in Tehran, Iran. Social media profiles under his name have appeared on Instagram (e.g., @t0nabedar), Threads, and X, often featuring Tehran locations and bios with militant or security-themed phrasing such as "Code Alchemist Security", "From Silence Comes Control", and references to "the commander". His Instagram bio has included Persian text referencing preparation for force ("وَأَعِدُّواْ لَهُم مَّا ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُم مِّن قوة") and locations tied to western Tehran areas like Tarasht.

Unintended confession of 'fun' in mass shooting protesting teenagers

In late January 2026, amid reported protests and unrest in Iran / 2026 Iran massacres, Maghsoudi allegedly posted an Instagram Story boasting about receiving and using a Dragunov sniper rifle (SVD) for the first time. Screenshots of the post, widely circulated on social media platforms including X and Threads, quoted him describing the experience in video-game terminology:

"For the first time, they gave us a Dragunov. They told us think of it as a sniper game - 'shoot as much as you can'. So I went and landed a ton of headshots."

Opposition activists, Iranian diaspora accounts, and critics accused him of confessing to firing on protesters, with some claims specifying targeting teenagers or girls. The associated Instagram account (linked by some reports to the Maghdad Base and IRGC-affiliated Imam Hussein and Imam Ali battalions) was reportedly deleted or restricted shortly afterward. Critics suggested the removal occurred because the post inadvertently exposed or embarrassed IRGC operations.

A Threads post by user I. P. Roman (@titoipr) explicitly identified Maghsoudi as "one of thousands of members of the Imam Hussein and Imam Ali battalions of the Basij paramilitary", amplifying the allegations and sharing related context.

The claims gained traction on X, with high-engagement posts (some receiving thousands of likes and reposts) labeling him an "IRGC thug" and calling for his identification and accountability. Photos purportedly showing him posing with an SVD rifle also circulated.

See also

• Basij
• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
• 2026 Iran massacres
• Human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran

External links

• [Instagram-related profiles and discussions] (archived or reported instances only; primary accounts reportedly deactivated)
• Threads post identifying Maghsoudi as a Basij member[1]