Odd statements by Major General Rahim Safavi

Yesterday, news agencies quoted Major General Rahim Safavi as saying, 'I wish the political figures had coordinated with the commanders after Operation Valfajr 8 and Operation Karbala 5 and ended the war.'

In response, let me remind you of some historical accounts from within the IRGC:

Following Iran's victory in Operation Valfajr 8, which began in mid-winter 1985 and was solidified in spring 1986, Hassan Rouhani worked hard to persuade the country's top officials to end the war. However, the IRGC’s stance was different.

Rouhani managed a meeting with the Majlis representatives called the 'Council of Wise Men' in spring 1986, which was shut down due to the efforts of the IRGC commander. Mohsen Rezaei argued that the discussions in this council would harm the war effort, stating that Imam Khomeini ordered the council to be dissolved. Rouhani mentioned that the council’s attempt at peace had a negative impact on its members, and the next session saw some members refusing to attend due to the perceived danger.

Major General Safavi also mentioned Karbala 5 as a potential moment to end the war. On January 8, the day before Operation Karbala 5 began, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani discussed the country’s limitations in continuing the war. Ibrahim Mohammadzadeh from the IRGC’s political office mentioned that Imam Khomeini had suggested the war might last twenty years, indicating a willingness to continue fighting indefinitely.

In August 1981, after the unsuccessful Ramadan operation, there was a contentious meeting among commanders. You assured them of victory and spoke about religious prophecies predicting that an Iranian army would eventually defeat Israel and that the liberation of Iraq would occur through Basra. Despite these assurances, historical facts and the current context suggest otherwise.

I hope you understand the need for a broader perspective on the war and the importance of accurate historical representation. While you can say and publish whatever you like, my book 'Historical Insights' on the war remains banned.

Shouldn't we encourage a wider view of the war's history?

Congratulations, General."**

Fall 2023