List of Iranian commanders in the Iran–Iraq War

Iran–Iraq war (1980–88)

On 17 September 1980, Saddam Hussein announced that he was ending the treaty with Iran which had been signed in 1975. Five days later, Iraqi armed forces began a land and air offensive against Iran. Many observers believe that Saddam Hussein's decision to invade Iran was a personal miscalculation based on ambition. He feared that Iran's new revolutionary leadership would threaten Iraq's delicate Sunni–Shia balance and exploit Iraq's geostrategic vulnerabilities, such as Iraq's minimal access to the Persian Gulf.

As the war continued, it became increasingly bloody as mass attacks by Iranian infantry were driven back, at high cost to both sides. In May 1982, Iran held the advantage thanks to a massive offensive when its forces drove Iraqi forces back to the border. Another series of offensives in 1984 allowed the Iranians to cross the border into Kurdistan and move towards the Tigris river. The Iranians finally seized Majnoon Island in southern Iraq, a center for oil production in this marshy region which was notoriously difficult to move troops into.

During this phase of the war, the Iraqis used poison gas to repel Iranian attacks. Mustard and nerve gases were used, demonstrating Iraqi ability to manufacture and deploy such weapons. The Iran-Iraq war is noted for Iraq's use of chemical and biological weapons against Iranian troops and civilians, many of which were supplied by the United States.

The Iran–Iraq war lasted for nearly eight years and included religious schisms, border disputes and political differences. It strained the political and social life of both countries, led to severe economic dislocation and altered the course of Iraqi and Iranian history.

Leaders

At the beginning of the war, the commander-in-chief was Abolhassan Banisadr. On 9 June 1981 he was replaced by Ruhollah Khomeini, who remained in the post for the rest of the war. The president of Iran during the early part of the war was Mohammad-Ali Rajai, who was killed in August 1981. His replacement for the remainder of the war was Ali Khamenei. Rajai's prime minister was Mohammad-Javad Bahonar, and Khamanei's prime minister was Mir-Hossein Mousavi.

Armed forces

During the war, the Islamic Republic of Iran Army was under the command of the Ministry of Defense. The Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, also known as Sepah, was commanded by the Ministry of Sepah. The Basij, a paramilitary volunteer militia, played an important part in the war.

Ministers of Defense

Ministers of Defense before and during the Iran-Iraq war included:

1. Ahmad Madani (1978–1979)
2. Mostafa Chamran (1979–1981)
3. Javad Fakori (1981)
4. Mousa Namjoo (1981)
5. Mohammad Salimi (1981–1985)
6. Mohammad Hossein Jalali (1985–1989)

Ministry of Sepah

Mohsen Rafighdoost (He served from 1982 to 1989 as Minister of the Revolutionary Guards)

Islamic Republic of Iran Army (IRI Army)

The Islamic Republic of Iran Army was divided into three forces in the Iran-Iraq war:

1. Islamic Republic of Iran Ground Force (The Ground Force has Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation (Havanirooz))
2. Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
3. Islamic Republic of Iran Navy

Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (IRGC)

The Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (Sepah) at first had only a ground force; the Air Force of Sepah was established in 1985.

Basij

The Basij (Persian: بسيج‎‎), full name Sâzmân-e Basij-e Mostaz'afin (Persian: سازمان بسیج مستضعفین‎‎, "The Organization for Mobilization of the Oppressed") is a paramilitary volunteer militia established in 1979 by order of the Islamic Revolution's leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The original organization comprised the civilian volunteers whom participated to fight in the Iran–Iraq war.

Other commanders

Other commanders who had a critical role in the Iran-Iraq war include:

and...