Ali Sayad Shirazi

Ali Sayyad Shirazi (, 13 June 1944  – 10 April 1999) was an Iranian military officer. He served as commander of the Iranian Ground Forces during the Iran–Iraq War and was a key military figure during the war. He was assassinated by Mojahedin-e Khalq in 1999 while serving as the deputy chief of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff.

Early life
Shirazi was born in Dargaz, Kabud Gonbad Rural District, Iran on 13 June 1944 and was of Afshar descent. His ancestors being from Isthabanat and Neyriz in Fars Province. His grandfather, setting out to Khorasan, settled in Dargaz. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Mashhad, where they lived for 2 years and later moved to the region of Mazandaran, living in the cities of Gorgan, Amol and Gonbad Kavous. He graduated from Amirkabir High School in Tehran. His father being a non-commissioned officer in the Iranian military inspired and motivated him to join the Army and in 1964 he joined as a cadet.

Career
Shirazi was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Artillery and in 1974, he was sent to the United States for further military education. When he returned to Iran he showed opposition to the policies of the Pahlavi government and participated in some street demonstrations. He then joined the opposition movement against the Shah. During the 1979 revolution, he served in the 64th Infantry Division in Urumiyeh. He was later awarded the rank of lieutenant general of the Iranian armed forces.

During the Iran–Iraq War Sayad Shirazi became one of the most important generals of Iran. In 1981, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini appointed him commander of the Ground Forces of the Iranian Army. In 1982, he led the Iranian Pasdaran and Basij soldiers to victory in the Iranian Operation Undeniable Victory, this was the first time Iran was able to defeat Iraq in a major battle, Iran broke through Iraq's "impenetrable" defense lines and expelled them from the Dezful-Shush area, this operation is considered by many as the turning point in the war.

In 1986, he was named member of the Supreme Defense Council. However, three weeks after this appointment Shirazi was relieved of his post as commander of the ground forces.

In 1988, the People's Mujahedin of Iran with help of Saddam Hussein invaded West-Iran and battled Iranian forces for Kermanshah. Iran's counter offensive, Operation Mersad (led by Shirazi), defeated MEK forces. He also led other successful military operations against Iraq, such as, Operation Zafar 7; and Operation Nasr-4. In 1989, Shirazi was awarded the highest military distinction in the Iranian armed forces, the Fath (Conquest) medal.

When the war concluded, Shirazi was not promoted to major general (unlike his counterparts), but was instead given various staff assignments.

Controversy
A clash and disagreement over strategy to be adopted in the Iran-Iraq war emerged between Shirazi and Mohsen Rezaee, commander of the Revolutionary Guards, in July 1986. When this rivalry became public, Ayatollah Khomeini met them in his residence on 19 July 1986 and urged them to "seek unity", telling them "You must endeavor, not to think in terms of being members of the Armed Forces or those of the Guards Corps or of the Basij forces. ... We must understand that if there were to be any disputes among you ... not only are we doomed here and now, but we also are guilty before God." It remains unclear why, Mohsen Rezaee, who had little military experience was in a technical dispute with a senior general.

Ali Sayyad Shirazi (with Mohsen Rezai, and Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani) was seen as among "the most hawkish of Iran’s military and civilian leaders, and those who most clearly advocated for continuing the war into Iraq."

Assassination
On 10 April 1999, 6:45 local time, Shirazi was assassinated outside his house while on his way to work. His assassin was disguised as a street sweeper. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a message on Shirazi's martyrdom. Iranian ex-President Khatami described him as "a selfless commander of Islam and honorable son of Iran." A Mujahedeen Khalq spokesman said that Shirazi had been targeted because for "purging and executing military personnel and for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of teen-agers in the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980's, in which he commanded Iran's ground forces."

Legacy
Thousands of people attended his state funeral. Shirazi has had several streets, buildings and military complexes named after him, including a subway station and a highway in Tehran.