People
Monfared Niaki, Seyyed Masoud
Written by: Fatemeh Ataei
Translated by: Hadi Qorbanyar
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Seyyed Masoud Monfared Niaki served as Deputy Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces. He was martyred on July 28, 1985, during a training exercise at Karaj Dam.
Born on September 24, 1929, in Amol,[1] Monfared Niaki earned his high school diploma in natural sciences and entered the Officers’ College in 1952.[2] He graduated in 1955 as a second lieutenant and began his career in the Army Ground Forces as a platoon commander.[3] The following year, he was promoted to captain.[4] In 1960, he married Maliheh Safarbeglou in Khoy; the couple had two daughters and two sons.[5]
Monfared Niaki completed preliminary and advanced armored courses, command and staff training, and national defense studies. On January 12, 1976, he became the deputy commander of the 3rd Brigade of the 81st Armored Division in Kermanshah and was later promoted to colonel. On December 13, 1978, he was appointed the commander of the 3rd Brigade of the 81st Armored Division.[6]
In the final days of the Pahlavi regime, as the popular movement led by Imam Khomeini (ra) gained momentum, Monfared Niaki also joined the uprising.[7]
In October 1980, Niaki was appointed commander of the 88th Armored Division of Zahedan and then went to Sistan and Baluchestan Province. A few days after the outbreak of the Imposed War, he asked President Abolhassan Banisadr to assign him to Khuzestan.[8] On April 9, 1981, Monfared Niaki became commander of the 92nd Armored Division of Ahvaz[9] and participated in many operations, including Thamen al-Aemmah (as), Tariq al-Quds, Tang-e Chazzabeh, Fath al-Mubin, Beit al-Muqaddas, Allah Akbar, Preliminary ValFajr, and ValFajr 1.[10] In October 1981, Ali Sayyad Shirazi—then commander of the Army Ground Forces—appointed him as Deputy Commander.
In Operation Tariq al-Quds (the liberation of Bostan), Monfared Niaki worked closely with Hassan Baqeri of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to conduct reconnaissance of enemy positions and assess operational feasibility.[11] In Operation Beit al-Muqaddas (the liberation of Khorramshahr), he commanded the Fath Operational Headquarters alongside Gholamreza Rashid of the IRGC. The forces of this headquarters were tasked with crossing the Karun River, reaching the strategic Ahvaz–Khorramshahr Road, and building fortifications to block enemy movements and reinforcements. The link-up between the Fath and Nasr headquarters and their advance towards the border caused the Iraqi 5th Mechanized and 6th Armored divisions to retreat, thereby paving the way for the liberation of Khorramshahr. Thanks to the successful efforts of the Fath and Nasr headquarters, by the ninth day of Operation Beit al-Muqaddas, Hoveyzeh, Hamid Barracks, and the northern part of the Ahvaz–Khorramshahr Road were liberated. After nearly 20 months, the cities of Ahvaz, Hamidiyeh, and Susangerd were finally out of Iraqi artillery range.[12]
As Operation Beit al‑Muqaddas began, Monfared Niaki was told his sick daughter had passed away, but he stayed on the frontlines. In a letter to his family, he wrote: “My dear child has people to care for her, but I cannot abandon my soldier sons in the midst of war. These soldiers fighting the enemy right now are all my children, and it is my duty to stand beside them, defeat the enemy, and bring victory for Islam”.
Monfared Niaki was the oldest commander in the Army during the war, who was affectionately known as “Grandfather” for his character and good manner.[13] He retired in 1982 but, after persistent requests and with the approval of President Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, was reinstated.[14]
As the war extended into the Persian Gulf, on February 9, 1984, Monfared Niaki was appointed commander of the Joint Sea–Coast Headquarters of Bandar Abbas. On December 23rd of 1984, he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, where he served as deputy head of the Third Directorate (Training and Education).[15]
On July 28, 1985, while visiting a training exercise of the 58th Zolfaqar Commando Division at Karaj Dam, Monfared Niaki was martyred after 33 years of service. He was laid to rest in section 26 of Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery in Tehran.[16] He always carried a card in his pocket that read: “If for any reason I lose my life while on duty, bury me wherever it causes the Army and the government the least trouble and cost”.[17]
At the first ceremony awarding the Order of Fath to military commanders who served in the Imposed War—held on September 27, 1989, to mark the anniversary of the breaking of the Abadan siege—his family received the second-class Order of Fath from the Leader of the Revolution in recognition of his decisive role in Operation Beit al-Muqaddas.[18] In late 2020, he was also posthumously awarded the Order of Fadakari.[19]
The road running from Ketab Square to Yadegar‑e Emam Expressway and Kuhestan Boulevard in Tehran has been named after Martyr Major General Monfared Niaki.[20] In Ahvaz, the Army 578 Hospital next to the 92nd Armored Division Barracks bears his name. A statue of Martyr Masoud Monfared Niaki was unveiled in Amol in early 2017.[21] The Army Ground Forces also produced the documentary “Akharin Fasl‑e Eshq (The Last Chapter of Love)”, inspired by the book Pedarbozorg (Grandfather), which covers his life story.[22]
[1] Markaz-e Motaleat va Pazhuhesh-haye Bonyad-e Shahid va Omur-e Isargaran, Farhang-e Aalam-e Shohada – Tehran-e Bozorg (Encyclopedia of Martyrs – Greater Tehran), Vol. 3, Tehran: Shahed, 1395, p. 2008.
[2] Mahmoudi, Sabura, Amir-e Shahid Seyyed Masud Monfared Niaki (Martyr Commander Seyyed Masud Monfared Niaki), Tehran: Resanesh-e Novin, 1396, p. 11.
[3] Pourbozorg Vafi, Ali-Reza, Radepay-e Pir (Footprints of the Elder), Qom: Khadem al-Reza, 1384, p. 14.
[4] Mahmoudi, Sabura, Ibid., p. 11.
[5] Ibid., Pp. 11–13.
[6] Ibid., p. 11; Pourbozorg Vafi, Ali-Reza, Ibid., p. 14.
[7] Khabargozari-ye Defa Muqaddas, Shahidi ke baraye Ruz-e Shahadatash ham Sefaresh Karde Bud (The Martyr Who Had Even Made Arrangements for the Day of His Martyrdom), https://dnws.ir/0009bZ
[8] Mahmoudi, Sabura, Ibid., p. 14.
[9] Pourbozorg Vafi, Ali-Reza, Ibid., p. 14.
[10] Mahmoudi, Sabura, Ibid., Pp. 16–21; Site-e Navid-e Shahed (Navid-e Shahed Website), https://tehran.navideshahed.com/fa/news/392351/%D8%B2
[11] Dehghan, Ahmad, Nagoftehaye Jang – Khaterat-e Sepahbod-e Shahid Ali Sayyad Shirazi (Untold Stories of the War: Memoirs of Martyr Lieutenant General Ali Sayyad Shirazi), Tehran: Sure-ye Mehr, p. 216.
[12] Khabargozari-ye Daneshju, Morur-e Abad-e Shakhsiyati va Farmandehi-ye Shahid Monfared Niaki (Review of the Personal and Command Attributes of Martyr Monfared Niaki), https://snn.ir/fa/news/1013426/%D
[13] Ruznameh-ye Keyhan (Keyhan Newspaper), No. 21321, 29 Farvardin 1395, p. 8.
[14] Ibid.
[15] Pourbozorg Vafi, Ali-Reza, Ibid., p. 14; Mahnameh-ye Saf, Year 1364, No. 69, p. 15.
[16] Pourbozorg Vafi, Ali-Reza, Ibid., p. 15; Mahnameh-ye Saf, Ibid.
[17] Mahnameh-ye Saf, Ibid., p. 14.
[18] Ruznameh-ye Jomhuri-ye Eslami (Jomhuri-ye Eslami), No. 571, 6 Mehr 1368, p. 12.
[19] Ruznameh-ye Keyhan (Keyhan Newspaper), No. 22641, 1 Dey 1399, p. 3.
[20] Site-e Mehr News (Mehr News Website), https://mehrnews.com/news/5497200/%D8%A8%D8%B1%DA%AF
[21] Site-e Khabar Online (Khabar Online Website), https://www.khabaronline.ir/news/625969/%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%8-
[22] Site-e Navid-e Shahed, Sharh-e Zendeginameh-ye Shahid Monfared Niaki dar yek Film-e Mostanad (Biography of Martyr Monfared Niaki in a Documentary), https://navideshahed.com/001IgQ
