Draft:Ali Sayad Shirazi

Ali Sayad Shirazi
Ali Sayad Shirazi
Name	Ali Sayad Shirazi
Other Names	Major General Martyr Ali Sayad Shirazi
Personal Details
Birth Place	Iran, Kabud Gonbad, Dargaz
Brith Date	1944 (CE)
Death Place	Tehran
Death Date	10 April 1999 (CE)
Religion	Islam
	v; t; e;

Ali Sayad Shirazi was the Commander of the Ground Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army during the Iran–Iraq War, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and one of the senior commanders of the Sacred Defense operations. He is known for his effective role in organizing Army and IRGC forces, particularly in Operations Tariq al-Quds, Fath-ol-Mobin, Beyt al-Muqaddas, and Operation Mersad. Sayad Shirazi was assassinated on 10 April 1999 (CE) by agents of the MEK (Hypocrites) in front of his private residence in Tehran, achieving Martyrdom.

Biography

Ali Sayad Shirazi was born in 1944 (CE), in Kabud Gonbad village, part of Dargaz County in Razavi Khorasan Province, into a religious family. His father, Ziad Khan, was a member of the Gendarmerie forces who later transferred to the Army. Due to his father's occupation, the Sayad Shirazi family resided in various cities including Mashhad, Gorgan, Shahroud, Amol, and Gonbad-e Kavus; he spent his childhood and education in these cities. He received his diploma in Tehran in 1963 (CE) and in August 1964 (CE), entered the Ground Forces Officer Academy of the Army. Sayad Shirazi graduated from the Officer Academy in 1967 (CE) with the rank of Second Lieutenant of Artillery and began his military service after completing specialized courses in commando, parachuting, and artillery.

Military Activities Before the Islamic Revolution

Major General Ali Sayad Shirazi, after completing the preliminary artillery course in Isfahan, was transferred to the 2nd Infantry Division of Tabriz and served as the Deputy Commander of a 105mm Artillery Battery. After the dissolution of this division in 1970 (CE), he was transferred to the 81st Armored Division of Kermanshah and became the Battery Commander. In 1971 (CE), he was sent to Tehran to attend an English language training course. He married Effat Shoja in 1972 (CE), and in 1973 (CE), due to his scientific and military capabilities, he was sent to the America to attend a specialized course in ballistic meteorology of artillery. He completed this course achieving the first rank among Iranian and American officers. Upon returning to Iran, in 1974 (CE), he was transferred to the Artillery Training Center in Isfahan and served as a professor at the Artillery School, teaching specialized courses such as ballistic meteorology, artillery mapping, map reading, and English language.

Religious and Political Activities Before the Islamic Revolution

Sayad Shirazi's religious spirit and devotion caused him to establish extensive connections with religious forces of the Army and religious activists during his service in the Imperial Army. He believed that a significant part of the Army body, especially young officers and soldiers, had the ground for accepting the ideas of the Islamic Revolution. Sayad Shirazi began his first organized religious activities during his presence in Kermanshah. By forming Islamic knowledge sessions for soldiers and non-commissioned officers, he expanded religious activities within the Army environment.

Connection with Religious Movements

In Kermanshah, Sayad Shirazi became familiar with the Hujjatiyyah Society sessions through some soldiers and religious forces. He later emphasized regarding this connection that the Hujjatiyyah Society was more of a context for him to become acquainted with Islamic knowledge, and with the expansion of revolutionary struggles, he separated his path from this movement and joined the Islamic Revolution movement led by Imam Khomeini. After transferring to Isfahan, his religious activities expanded further. While teaching English language to seminary students, he participated in Quranic and religious sessions and engaged in studying Islamic works.

Under Surveillance of the Imperial Army Counter-Intelligence

Sayad Shirazi's religious activities and connections caused sensitivity in the Army Counter-Intelligence Organization. From 1975 (CE), a file was opened for him and his activities were placed under surveillance. Army Counter-Intelligence reports introduced him as a "very religious" individual, "committed to service," and having connections with Islamic circles. Some reports referred to his presence in religious sessions, studying Islamic books, and using Nahj al-Balagha in command training.

Formation of Combat Cells in the Army

At the Artillery Training Center in Isfahan, Sayad Shirazi, along with some religious Army officers, took action to form combat cells. By organizing secret communications among young officers, he provided the ground for a portion of the Army forces to join the Islamic Revolution. Among the individuals who had connections with him, one can mention Martyr Youssef Kolahdooz and Martyr Hassan Agharabparast.

On the Eve of the Islamic Revolution's Victory

With the escalation of public protests in 1978 (CE), Sayad Shirazi's revolutionary activities became more apparent. He expressed his opposition to the policies of the Pahlavi regime and the Army's treatment of the people. He was arrested in Bahman 1978 (CE) due to revolutionary activities, but was released with the victory of the Islamic Revolution on 11 February 1979 (CE).

Activities after the Victory of the Islamic Revolution

After the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, Ali Sayad Shirazi, along with a group of revolutionary army officers and non-commissioned officers, took responsibility for protecting and organizing military forces in Isfahan. During this period, he played a role in securing military centers including the Artillery Training Center, Artillery Groups 44 and 55, Army Aviation, Gendarmerie, and the 8th Isfahan Fighter Base. His acquaintance with revolutionary forces such as Rahim Safavi and Ahmad Salek strengthened the connection between the army and revolutionary forces in Isfahan.

Activities in Kurdistan

In 1979 CE, with the spread of insecurity and the activities of separatist groups in the western regions of the country, Sayad Shirazi was dispatched along with army and IRGC forces to confront the Kurdistan crisis. He played an effective role in cleansing operations in the western regions of the country. Sayad Shirazi, in the course of confronting armed groups in Kurdistan, in cooperation with IRGC forces and popular forces, participated in the liberation of cities such as Sanandaj, Boukan, and Oshnavieh. His command capabilities during this period led to his appointment as the commander of operations in the western country in 1980 CE with the rank of Colonel. In this responsibility, he commanded units such as the 81st Kermanshah Armored Division, 28th Kurdistan Division, 16th Qazvin Armored Division, 23rd Special Airborne Brigade, and Gendarmerie forces of the western country.

Disagreement with Bani-Sadr and the Outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War

In the months before the start of the Iran-Iraq War, Sayad Shirazi warned about the military movements of the Ba'athist army of Iraq on the western borders, but due to disagreements with Abolhassan Banisadr, the then president and commander-in-chief, he was removed from the command of the western country. After the start of the war, he worked for a while in the central headquarters of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps in the responsibility of Deputy of Planning and Operations. With the fall of Bani-Sadr and the coming to power of the Mohammad-Ali Rajai government, Sayad Shirazi returned to the western front again and took command of the military forces of this region.

Command of the Army Ground Forces

Sayad Shirazi's successes in operations in the western country caused him to be appointed as the commander of the Ground Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army on 29 September 1981 CE, by the order of Imam Khomeini. During his command, while reconstructing the structure of the Army Ground Forces, by creating coordination between the Army and the IRGC, he provided the ground for the execution of extensive joint operations during the Sacred Defense era. Sayad Shirazi, by forming the joint operational headquarters of Karbala Headquarters in the south of the country, played an important role in coordination between Army and IRGC forces.

Role in Sacred Defense Operations

Sayad Shirazi was one of the main commanders of many major operations of the Sacred Defense era. Among the operations in which he played a role in design, command, or guidance, the following can be mentioned: Template:Div col

Operation Saman-ol-Aemme;
Operation Tariq-ol-Qods;
Operation Fath-ol-Mobin;
Operation Beit-ol-Moqaddas;
Operation Ramadan;
Operation Muslim ibn Aqil;
Operation Matla-ol-Fajr;
Operation Valfajr 1;
Operation Valfajr 2;
Operation Valfajr 3;
Operation Valfajr 4;
Operation Valfajr 8;
Operation Khaybar;
Operation Badr;
Operation Qader.

Template:Div col end

One of the most important features of Sayad Shirazi's command was emphasizing unity between the Army and the IRGC and using the joint capacity of armed forces against the Ba'athist Army of Iraq.

Resignation from Command of the Army Ground Forces

Sayad Shirazi resigned from the command of the Army Ground Forces in July–August 1986 CE, due to differences in viewpoint regarding the method of commanding operations and existing problems in coordination between the Army and the IRGC. Afterwards, with the approval of Imam Khomeini and the proposal of Ali Khamenei, the then president, in 1986 CE, he was appointed as the Imam's representative in the Supreme Defense Council. In 1987 CE, with the approval of Imam Khomeini, he attained the rank of Brigadier General.

Operation Mersad and the Defeat of the Munafiqin

One of the most prominent military roles of Sayad Shirazi was commanding Mersad in July–August 1988 CE, against the forces of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (Munafiqin). After the start of Operation Forough Javidan by the Mojahedin Organization with the support of the Ba'athist Army of Iraq, Sayad Shirazi was dispatched to the Kermanshah region and, by designing a coordinated operation between the Army, IRGC, and popular forces, stopped the Mojahedin's attack in the Chahar Zabar region. In this operation, Army units using attack helicopters and ground forces destroyed the military columns of the Mojahedin, and their operation faced complete defeat. Sayad Shirazi's role in the defeat of the Mojahedin's operation caused this organization to develop a deep grudge against him.

Post-War Responsibilities

After the end of the Iran-Iraq War, Sayad Shirazi continued to serve in various military responsibilities. In 1989 CE, he was appointed as the Deputy of Inspection of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces, and in 1993 CE, he took responsibility as the Deputy of the Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces. On 26 March 1999 CE, on the occasion of Eid al-Ghadir, he was promoted to the rank of Major General by the order of the Commander-in-Chief.

Establishment of the War Knowledge Committee

One of Sayyad Shirazi's cultural and educational measures after the war was transferring the experiences of the Sacred Defence to the new generation of military forces. In 1994 (CE), he began teaching the lesson of War Knowledge at the Imam Ali Officer University (peace be upon him), and in 1995 (CE), with the approval of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Martyr Sayyad Shirazi founded the War Knowledge Committee. The goal of this collection was to record the experiences of Sacred Defence commanders and train future generations of the armed forces.

Martyrdom

Major General Ali Sayyad Shirazi was assassinated on the morning of 10 April 1999 (CE), upon leaving his home in Tehran, by agents of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (Monafiqin), and achieved Martyrdom. Following his martyrdom, Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, described him in a message as "the glorious commander of the Army of Islam, the truthful and self-sacrificing soldier of religion and the Quran, a faithful and pious military man."

Viewpoints and Spiritual Will

In one of his last writings, Sayyad Shirazi considered adherence to Wilayah, continuing the path of the martyrs, and strengthening spirituality in society as the most important factor for individual and collective success, emphasizing the role of Islamic culture in the armed forces.

He had written:

"I consider the greatest blessing of God to be the great blessing of Wilayah, and I consider steadfastness in connection with Wilayah to be the guarantee of guidance and a good end."

References

Centre for Historical Documents Review, Publication date: 8 April 2025 (CE), Access date: 27 July 2026 (CE).

Template:Martyrs