Oral History :: From Javanrud to Piranshahr

From Javanrud to Piranshahr

The Memoir of Reza Mohammadinia

Mahya Hafezi
Translated by Kianoush Borzouei

2025-09-15

The book From Javanrud to Piranshahr recounts the life and struggles of Commander Reza Mohammadinia, who spent part of the Iran–Iraq War in the western and northwestern regions of the country. During those years, he held responsibilities such as deputy commander of the Seventh Region of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), acting head of the Javanrud district, service on the southern fronts, director of propaganda at the Hamzeh Seyyed al-Shohada Headquarters, and commander of the Piranshahr IRGC unit. He was among those commanders who, beyond their military roles, remained actively engaged in cultural and social spheres, trying to forge a meaningful connection between the battlefield and cultural work.

The interviews were conducted and initially compiled by the Oral History Group of the Center for Sacred Defense Documents and Research, while the final editing was carried out by Hamid Hazegh-Nikoo with the aim of presenting a coherent and thoroughly documented narrative. The volume forms part of the oral history project on war commanders—a project designed to supplement the archival record of the Iran–Iraq War by preserving first-hand accounts from IRGC and army commanders, with an emphasis on authenticity and critical reflection.

The book is organized into twenty-two interviews, presented across five sections. In these dialogues, the narrator revisits different stages of his life, from childhood and adolescence to the weighty responsibilities of command in Iran’s northwest.

The first section, entitled From Birth to Joining the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, traces the emergence of the narrator’s revolutionary identity.

In the opening interview, we encounter his childhood and adolescence in Tehran’s religious Javadiyeh neighborhood. He speaks of the influence of his father, a postman, of his devout family, his attendance at the newly established Asghariyeh Mosque of the Zanjani community, and the religious gatherings of that era.
The second and third interviews record his political activism and street-level struggles before the Revolution: participation in demonstrations and marches (such as the Eid al-Fitr prayer in Gheytarieh and the 17 Shahrivar massacre), followed by arrest, interrogation, and imprisonment at the hands of SAVAK.
The fourth interview turns to the victory of the Revolution. The narrator recalls his presence at a meeting in the home of Ayatollah Beheshti, his role in securing military garrisons, and organizing revolutionary forces at Vali-Asr barracks. The pivotal development of this section is his acquaintance and close collaboration with the martyred commander Mohammad Boroujerdi, a relationship that proved decisive for his future.

The second section, Deployment to Western and Northwestern Iran, marks the beginning of the narrator’s perilous missions in Kurdish regions.

In the fifth interview, he describes his dispatch to Javanrud and his assumption of responsibility as district governor and acting mayor in a turbulent setting. His efforts to address people’s needs—offering medical aid, resolving local problems, and confronting counterrevolutionary groups—are vividly portrayed. He also recounts his debate with communist teachers at the Javanrud high school and his success in countering their rhetoric.
The sixth and seventh interviews concern cleansing operations and endeavors to restore order. He explains the formation of the “Oramanat Headquarters” to coordinate forces from Paveh and Javanrud, as well as his assumption of deputy command of the Seventh Region following the outbreak of the imposed war.
The eighth and ninth interviews address the discharge of President Banisadr, negotiations with the Ahl-e Haqq community for regional security, and the IRGC’s cultural and propaganda initiatives to counter enemy psychological warfare. The narrator stresses his attempts to foster unity and hope in the region, guided by Boroujerdi’s strategic vision.

The third section, On the Southern Fronts and at the Hamzeh Headquarters Propaganda Division, follows the narrator’s assignments during the middle years of the war.

In the tenth interview, he recalls the tense atmosphere of Kermanshah after the assassination of Ayatollah Ata-ollah Ashrafi Esfahani, the ensuing discord, and his deployment to the southern fronts—soon after which he was transferred to Urmia.
The eleventh interview centers on his role as deputy head of propaganda at the Hamzeh Seyyed al-Shohada Headquarters. He outlines his work in strengthening the headquarters’ cultural framework and describes its threefold mission: combating Ba‘athist forces, ensuring lasting security, and supporting nearby cities.
The twelfth interview details the wide-ranging cultural and artistic activities of the headquarters designed to counter enemy propaganda and raise public awareness—underscoring the strategic significance of cultural work alongside military operations.
In the thirteenth interview, he recounts the tragic martyrdom of Mohammad Boroujerdi and Nasser Kazemi. He also describes his appointment as commander of the Salmas IRGC in 1984 and his first mission in Operation Laylat al-Qadr.

The fourth section, Command of the Piranshahr IRGC, represents the peak of the narrator’s presence in the western fronts and his role in establishing durable security.

In the sixteenth interview, he discusses his assumption of command of the Piranshahr IRGC and his adherence to Boroujerdi’s seven-point program for sustainable security—ranging from intelligence operations and public welfare to mass mobilization. He emphasizes the importance of practical training for forces and of counteracting counterrevolutionary psychological warfare.
The seventeenth interview focuses on his efforts to neutralize hostile propaganda, rumors, and disinformation.
The eighteenth and nineteenth interviews recount in detail Operations Nasr-4 and Sepahkan, describing how his forces countered enemy harassment tactics in mountainous terrain. They also cover the acceptance of UN Resolution 598, the renewed Ba‘athist assault on Piranshahr in the final days of the war, and how IRGC forces foiled the enemy’s designs.

The final section, Conclusion of the Northwestern Mission, offers a summation of his wartime experience and postwar responsibilities.

In the twentieth interview, he describes the condition of Kurdish areas after the ceasefire, the expansion of the Basij women’s branch, Ayatollah Khamenei’s visit to West Azerbaijan, and the mourning ceremonies for Imam Khomeini.
The twenty-first interview addresses his new responsibilities with the IRGC’s Region 11 in Kurdistan and his command of the Beit al-Moqaddas Brigade, highlighting his efforts to train commanders and improve inter-unit coordination.
In the closing interview, Mohammadinia reflects on the aftermath of Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait and his work to assist displaced Iraqi Shi‘a refugees along the borders. He speaks of establishing relief bases in frontier regions and the city of Ranya. His fourteen-year mission in the west and northwest concludes with his appointment as commander of the IRGC’s 3rd Shohada Division.

The book concludes with documents and an index. Photographs are interspersed throughout the text, accompanied by captions. The first edition of From Javanrud to Piranshahr, comprising 604 pages, was published in 2023 by Sooreh Mehr in 1,000 copies, octavo format, at the price of 185,000 tomans.

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