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Ali Sayad Shirazi

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Ali Sayad Shirazi was a high-ranking military officer in Iran. He played a central role as a commander for the Iranian Ground Forces. This was especially true during the Iran–Iraq War. Shirazi eventually served as the deputy chief of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff. His life was defined by military service, major battles, and political shifts within Iran.

Ali Sayad Shirazi & Mohsen Rezaee
Ali Sayad Shirazi & Mohsen Rezaee

Shirazi was born on June 13, 1944, in Dargaz, Iran. He belonged to the Afshar ethnic group. His ancestors originally came from Isthabanat and Neyriz in the Fars province. After his birth, his family lived in Mashhad for two years. They later moved to the Mazandaran region. There, they lived in several cities, including Gorgan, Amol, and Gonbad Kavous. He later attended Amirkabir High School in Tehran. His father was a non-commissioned officer in the military. This background motivated Shirazi to join the army as a cadet in 1964.

His military career involved many different ranks and locations. He first became a second lieutenant in the artillery. In 1974, he traveled to the United States for advanced military education. Upon his return to Iran, he joined the opposition movement against the Shah. During the Iranian revolution, he was stationed with the 64th Infantry Division in Urmia. He eventually earned the rank of lieutenant general. In 1981, the supreme leader, Ruhollah Khomeini, appointed him as the commander of the Iranian Army.

Shirazi led several major military operations that shaped the Iran–Iraq War. In 1982, he commanded the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and the Basij paramilitaries. He led them in Operation Undeniable Victory. In this battle, Iranian forces broke through the "impenetrable" defense lines of Iraq. This allowed them to expel Iraqi forces from the Dezful-Shush area. Many historians view this operation as the turning point of the war. He also led other successful missions, such as Operation Zafar 7 and Operation Nasr-4. In 1988, he led Operation Mersad to defeat the National Liberation Army in Kermanshah.

Despite his successes, Shirazi faced internal political challenges. He was known as a "hawkish" leader. This means he strongly advocated for continuing the war into Iraq. In July 1986, he had a violent clash with Mohsen Rezaee, the commander of the IRGC. This disagreement was about military strategy and policy. The dispute became public, which led the supreme leader to intervene. On July 19, 1986, the leader met them to urge unity. He told them they must not act as separate groups. Shortly after this, Shirazi was relieved of his post as commander of the ground forces.

Ali Sayad Shirazi & Mohsen Rezaee
Ali Sayad Shirazi & Mohsen Rezaee

In 1989, Shirazi received the Fath medal. This is the highest military distinction in the Iranian armed forces.

Order of Fat'h (1st Class)
Order of Fat'h (1st Class)

After the war ended, he did not become a major general like his peers. Instead, he was given various staff assignments. His career continued until his death in 1999. On April 10, 1999, at 6:45 local time, Shirazi was assassinated. An assailant from the MEK, disguised as a street sweeper, attacked him outside his house. This event caused great sadness in the country.

Many people honored Shirazi after he died. Thousands of people attended his state funeral.

Funeral of General Sayyad Shirazi
Funeral of General Sayyad Shirazi

Former President Khatami called him an honorable son of Iran. A spokesman for the MEK stated that Shirazi was targeted due to his role in the war. Today, his legacy remains visible in Iranian infrastructure. Several buildings and military complexes bear his name. In Tehran, there is even a highway and a subway station named after him.

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File:Order of Fat'h (1st Class).svg
Order of Fat'h (1st Class).svg
File:Ali Sayad Shirazi & Mohsen Rezaee.jpg
Ali Sayad Shirazi & Mohsen Rezaee.jpg
File:Funeral of General Sayyad Shirazi.jpg
Funeral of General Sayyad Shirazi.jpg
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