TEHRAN – Major General Hassan Firouzabadi, former chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, has died after battling with the Coronavirus.

Firouzabadi, 70, held the top military post from 1989 to 2016. 

Since 2016, he served as senior military advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

During Saddam Hussein's war against Iran in the 1980s, Firouzabadi served in positions such as deputy prime minister at the Khatam al-Anbia central headquarters, chief of the headquarters for rescue and treatment operations, head of the shelters and civil defense, commander of chemical, microbial, and atomic defense systems. 

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Firouzabadi as armed forces chief of staff on September 26, 1989, nearly more than a year after the imposed war against Iran ended. 

Officials condole Firouzabadi demise

In separate messages on Friday morning, several high-ranking officials offered condolences over the demise of Firouzabadi. 

President Ebrahim Raisi called him a “committed and sincere commander”.

The text of Ayatollah Raisi's message is as follows:

“In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

we belong to Allah and indeed to Him we shall return (Holy Quran)

The passing of Major General Seyyed Hassan Firouzabadi, the senior military adviser to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and a member of the Expediency Council, caused deep grief and sorrow.

This Basiji commander was committed and sincere and spent many years of his fruitful life in various strongholds, and served, protected and defended the values and ideals of the revolution and the Islamic system.

I offer my condolences to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the honorable people of Iran, the Armed Forces and all his friends, especially the respected family of Firouzabadi, and I wish patience and health to his family.”

Other officials such as Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, IRGC Commander Hossein Salami, and current Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri issued messages of condolences over the passing of the major general.