Hassan Firouzabadi

Firouzabadi was born on 3 February 1951{{citation|url=https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1383.aspx|title= Treasury Sanctions Two Senior Iranian Officials for Serious Human Rights Abuses|publisher=U.S. Department of Treasury|date=13 December 2011|access-date=15 October 2017}} in the town of Malabad, in Mashhad, Iran, to religious parents who came from Yazd.{{cite news |title=زندگینامه: سید حسن فیروزآبادی (۱۳۲۹- ۱۴۰۰) |url=https://www.hamshahrionline.ir/news/101019/%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF%DA%AF%DB%8C%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%86-%D9%81%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%A2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%DB%B1%DB%B3%DB%B2%DB%B9-%DB%B1%DB%B4%DB%B0%DB%B0 |access-date=3 September 2021 |agency=Hamshah Online |date=3 September 2021 |language=Persian}} He studied at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, graduating in 1980, one year after the Iranian Revolution.{{cite news |title=صراحت سرلشکر |url=http://www.sharghdaily.ir/News/163175/%D8%B5%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%84%D8%B4%DA%A9%D8%B1- |access-date=3 September 2021 |date=2 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402055652/http://www.sharghdaily.ir/News/163175/%D8%B5%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%84%D8%B4%DA%A9%D8%B1- |archive-date=2 April 2018 |language=Persian}} He then took a part in the Iran–Iraq War and rose in prominence. He was in charge of the industrial war engineering, and the committee for the construction of surface-to-surface missiles. After the end of the war on 25 October 1989, Ali Khamenei appointed him head of the General Staff.

Before he was appointed the chief-of-staff, Firouzabadi had no previous military experience from either the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), or the Islamic Republic of Iran Army (Artesh), and he went by the title Basiji.{{citation|title=The Islamic Republic's Art of Survival: Neutralizing Domestic and Foreign Threats|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/islamic-republics-art-survival-neutralizing-domestic-and-foreign-threats|author=Saeid Golkar|date=June 2013|work=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy|type=Policy Focus|page=10}} On 17 April 1995, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei granted him the rank of major general, practically the highest military rank available in Iran.{{citation|url=http://www.leader.ir/fa/content/1114|language=fa|title=The Ceremont to Grant the Rank of Major General to Dr. Seyyed Hassan Firouzabadi|work=leader.ir|date=17 April 1995|access-date=5 October 2017}} According to a report published by The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, he was credited with "leading the IRGC from a war-ravaged organization to a hybrid conventional-asymmetric military force overshadowing the still-lagging Artesh.{{cite news |last1=Nadimi |first1=Farzin |title=Who Is Iran's New Armed Forces Chief of Staff? |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/who-irans-new-armed-forces-chief-staff |access-date=3 September 2021 |agency=Washington Institute for Near East Policy |date=5 July 2016}} He also oversaw a growing military industry that produced a wide range of products amid international sanctions, from ammunition to space rockets".{{citation|url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/who-is-irans-new-armed-forces-chief-of-staff|title=Who Is Iran's New Armed Forces Chief of Staff?|work=The Washington Institute|date=5 July 2016|access-date=1 March 2017}}

Following the death of Kavous Seyed-Emami in custody in 2018, Firouzabadi claimed that “Several years ago, some individuals came to Iran... In their possessions were a variety of reptile desert species like lizards, chameleons... We found out that their skin attracts atomic waves and that they were nuclear spies who wanted to find out where do we (inside the Islamic Republic of Iran) have uranium mines, and where are we engaged in atomic activities”. Several scientists dismissed his remarks as absurd.{{cite news|last=Maza|first=Cristina|url=http://www.newsweek.com/iran-says-enemies-using-lizards-spy-nuclear-program-805195|title=Iran Says Enemies Used Lizards to Spy on Nuclear Program|work=Newsweek|date=13 February 2018}}{{cite news|last=Ghose|first=Tia|url=https://www.livescience.com/61746-lizard-spies-skin-cannot-detect-radioactivity.html|title=No, Iran, Lizard 'Spies' Can't Detect Uranium|work=Live Science|date=13 February 2018}}

In October 2011, he was banned from entering the European Union for alleged violation of human rights.{{cite news |title=COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) No 359/2011 of 12 April 2011 |url=https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/First.EUSank1DL.pdf |access-date=3 September 2021 |work=European Union Council |date=2011}}

Firouzabadi expressed anti-American sentiment, rejecting a letter sent to him by the US Congress and said that "the scourge of Americans were a threat to the Revolution."Mahmoudi, Alborz (15 December 2008), "Sardar Warning to Larijani", retrieved online on 13 March 2009 from Day online (in Persian)Saffari, Esfandiar (7 July 2008), "We are closing the Strait of Hormuz", online retrieved on 13 March 2009.

Firouzabadi was a supporter of former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's ideology and called on the Higher National Defense University to add to his ideology.Ahadi, Hamid (14 October 2008), "Codify Ahmadinejad's Thoughts", retrieved online on 13 March 2009. Defending the continuation of Ahmadinejad's presidency, he also said in a speech that provoked criticism from most of the presidential candidates:

"Now some believe that the distance that groups of politicians have created between the government and the people has been successful and has been able to attract the attention of the people. Therefore, in this presidential election, they can nominate a new presidential candidate and end the issue of Ahmadinejad. But this does not happen, they make mistakes". He further criticized former president Mohammad Khatami.{{cite news |url=https://fararu.com/vdcgxu9q.ak9y74prra.html |title=حمایت رئيس ستاد كل نيروهای مسلح از آقای احمدی نژاد |trans-title=Support for Mr. Ahmadinejad, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces |work=Fararu News Agency |date=28 February 2009 |language=Persian |access-date=3 September 2021 |archive-date=24 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524000325/http://fararu.com/vdcgxu9q.ak9y74prra.html |url-status=dead }} However, towards the end of Ahmadinejad's presidency, he became critical of Ahmadinejad's positions.{{cite news |title=انتقاد فیروز آبادی از اقدام احمدی‌نژاد و مشایی |url=https://www.tabnak.ir/fa/news/313376/%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%81%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2-%D8%A2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%D9%86%DA%98%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%88-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C |access-date=3 September 2021 |agency=Tabnak Agency |date=15 April 2013 |language=Persian}}{{cite news |title=واکنش سرلشکر فیروزآبادی به اظهارات اخیر احمدی‌نژاد در خوزستان |url=https://www.yjc.news/fa/news/4351004/%D9%88%D8%A7%DA%A9%D9%86%D8%B4-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%84%D8%B4%DA%A9%D8%B1-%D9%81%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%A2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B8%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%AE%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%86%DA%98%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86 |access-date=3 September 2021 |agency=YJC News |date=2 May 2013 |language=Persian}}

According to media reports on 3 September 2021, Firouzabadi died at the age of 70 from COVID-19, amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran.{{cite news |title=Long-Serving Former Iran Chief Of Staff Dies Of Covid |url=https://iranintl.com/en/iran-in-brief/long-serving-former-iran-chief-staff-dies-covid |access-date=3 September 2021 |agency=Iran International |date=3 September 2021}}{{cite web |title=Iran supreme leader's senior military advisor Firouzabadi dies |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/09/03/Iran-supreme-leader-s-senior-military-advisor-Firouzabadi-dies-Reports |website=Al Arabiya English |date=3 September 2021 |access-date=3 September 2021}}{{cite news |title=Hassan Firouzabadi, former Iran's armed forces chief of staff, dies |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/464643/Hassan-Firouzabadi-former-Iran-s-armed-forces-chief-of-staff |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=Tehran Times |date=3 September 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Former Iran army chief dies of Covid-19: reports |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210903-former-iran-army-chief-dies-of-covid-19-reports |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=France 24 |date=3 September 2021 |language=en}} A funeral attended by senior military commanders was held in Tehran on Saturday 4 September.{{cite news |title=Ayatollah Khamenei offers condolences on passing of senior general |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/464674/Ayatollah-Khamenei-offers-condolences-on-passing-of-senior-general |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=Tehran Times |date=4 September 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=(تصاویر) تشییع پیکر سرلشکر فیروزآبادی |url=https://fararu.com/fa/news/503514/%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%B4%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%B9-%D9%BE%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%84%D8%B4%DA%A9%D8%B1-%D9%81%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%A2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C |access-date=5 September 2021 |agency=fararu.com |date=5 September 2021 |language=fa |trans-title=Funeral of General Firoozabadi (Images).}}

• List of Iranian two-star generals since 1979

{{reflist}}

• {{commons category inline|Hassan Firouzabadi}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-mil}}

{{s-new}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Head of Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters|years=1988 – 26 September 1989}}

{{s-aft|after=Mohammad Forouzandeh|as=Deputy Chief of the General Staff of Iranian Armed Forces}}

{{s-bef|before=Mir-Hossein Mousavi|as=Head of Commander-in-Chief Headquarters}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chief-of-Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces|years=26 September 1989 – 28 June 2016}}

{{s-aft|after=Mohammad Bagheri}}

{{s-npo}}

{{s-bef|before=Ali Behzadnia}}

{{s-ttl|title=President of the Iranian Red Crescent Society|years=1981–1983}}

{{s-aft|after=Seifollah Vahid Dastjerdi}}

{{s-end}}

{{Chiefs of the Iranian General Staff}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Firouzabadi, Seyed Hassan}}

Category:Iranian major generals

Category:1951 births

Category:2021 deaths

Category:Military personnel from Mashhad

Category:Chiefs of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces

Category:Iranian individuals subject to U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions

Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran

Category:Anti-Americanism

Category:Iranian Qutbists