The 30th Division of Gorgan was one of the Iranian Army units that actively participated in the Iran-Iraq War.

The history of the 30th Division of Gorgan dates back to the early 1930s. In 1932, a regiment was formed in Gorgan, which was later upgraded to a division before the outbreak of World War II.⁠[1] In 1971, the division was disbanded and replaced by a regiment of the Science Corps.⁠[2]

After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Division Center was established in Gorgan. This brigade consisted of the 188th Battalion in Gorgan, the 190th in Sari, and the 189th in Gonbad. The personnel of these battalions were mainly former members of the Gard-e Javidan and individuals who wanted to serve in their hometowns.⁠[3] The first mission of the 3rd Brigade took place in early 1979 during the Gonbad crisis, when the 188th Battalion was deployed to the area to help resolve the situation.⁠[4]

In September 1980, eighteen days before the start of the Iran-Iraq War, units from the 1st and 2nd Division Centers were merged to form the 21st Hamzeh Division in Tehran.⁠[5] With the outbreak of the war, the 188th Battalion of Gorgan and the 190th Battalion of Sari were sent to Tehran. After reorganization within the new units of the 21st Division, they were dispatched to the southern operational area on September 29, 1980.⁠[6]

One year later, on September 14, 1981, the battalions stationed in Gorgan, Gonbad, and Sari were separated from the 21st Hamzeh Division and reorganized as the independent 30th Brigade of Gorgan. At that time, to reinforce the brigade, a number of discharged soldiers voluntarily signed contracts and joined its ranks.⁠[7] The brigade’ s first mission after becoming independent was to deploy to the northwest of the country to confront anti-revolutionary elements.⁠[8]

In April-May 1982, during Operation Beit al-Muqaddas, the 188th and 190th battalions of the 30th Brigade of Gorgan operated under the command of the 21st Hamzeh Division as part of Nasr Headquarters. Together with other Army and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) units, they took part in the left flank of the battle.⁠[9] Nasr Headquarters was tasked with crossing the Karun River in the southern front, securing a bridgehead, and advancing along five axes to destroy enemy forces, encircle Khorramshahr, and cover the left flank of the operation.⁠[10]

The operation began on April 30, 1982. Forces of the 21st Division, including the 188th and 190th battalions, crossed the Karun River at night using floating bridges. After engaging the enemy, they reached the Ahvaz– Khorramshahr Road.⁠[11] In the following phases, these units, still under Nasr Headquarters, were ordered to advance toward the international borders in western Khuzestan and push toward Shalamcheh. They eventually reached the northern areas of Khorramshahr, which paved the way for the liberation of the city on May 24, 1982.⁠[12]

A few months later, the 805th Battalion of the 30th Brigade of Gorgan, operating under the 55th Airborne Brigade, took part in the liberation of the western Sumar region during Operation Moslem ibn Aqil.⁠[13]

In the summer of 1982, the Gorgan and Sari garrisons of the brigade were assigned to guard Iraqi prisoners of war. The number of these prisoners eventually reached around 6000 by the end of the war.⁠[14] From early 1983, the 30th Brigade was redeployed to the Sumar region for defensive duties.⁠[15]

From March 1983, when reserve forces were organized as Quds Battalions within the Army Ground Forces — including in the 30th Brigade — the garrisons in Gorgan, Gonbad, and Sari became active in training newly enlisted soldiers.⁠[16]

After the Sumar region, the 30th Brigade was deployed to Marivan to take responsibility for the defense of that area, where it remained until early 1986.⁠[17]

In May 1984, the 30th Brigade was upgraded and became an operational division.⁠[18] In late 1985, the 30th Division was moved to the southern front.⁠[19]

One of the division’ s actions in the south was the artillery support provided by its 336th Artillery Battalion to IRGC forces during Operation Valfajr 8.⁠[20]

In late 1986 and early 1987, the 1st and 2nd brigades were formed within the 30th Division. These brigades established their own independent command headquarters, and an independent artillery command was also created.⁠[21]

By early 1987, the 30th Division was still stationed in the Baneh operational area.⁠[22] In April 1988, as its final offensive participation in the war, the division took part in Operation Beit al-Muqaddas 5 in the Penjwin region with its 742nd Battalion.⁠[23]

During the Iran-Iraq War, 1,061 personnel from the 30th Division of Gorgan were martyred.⁠[24]

After the war, the units of the 30th Division remained in the southern and northwestern regions of the country for four years. In 1992, they returned to their home territory in Golestan and Mazandaran provinces.⁠[25]

With the implementation of the Thamen Plan in 2011, which converted divisions into independent brigades,⁠[26] the brigades of the 30th Division also became independent. They continued their activities as the 130th Shahid Deljooyan Brigade in Bojnord and the 230th Shahid Mataji Brigade in Gorgan. Today, they are only under the operational command of the 30th Division Headquarters.⁠[27]

Among the most prominent commanders of the 30th Division during the Iran-Iraq War were Colonel Muhammad-Ali Kamangiri, Colonel Rahim Darafshan, and Colonel Abolqasem Sharaf al-Ziyad.⁠[28] The current commander of the division is Brigadier General Muhammad Ghaffari.⁠[29]