Jul 16, 07:32 AM

Former Basij Chief Gheybparvar Dies of Iran-Iraq War Chemical Injuries

Iranian state media said Brig. Gen. Gholamhossein Gheybparvar, a senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, died on 16 July from illnesses linked to chemical exposure during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War. The 63-year-old officer had recently served as deputy to the IRGC’s commander-in-chief at the Imam Ali Central Security Headquarters. Gheybparvar headed the paramilitary Basij Organization from 2016 to 2019 and previously led the IRGC’s Fajr Corps in Fars Province. During his four-decade military career he became a visible figure in domestic security operations and was regarded as close to the IRGC’s top leadership. Fars and Tasnim, outlets aligned with the Guard, attributed the death to lingering wartime injuries. Some independent commentators questioned the official explanation, noting the absence of prior public reports about the commander’s health, but Iranian authorities have not addressed the speculation.