Martyr Dr. Mostafa Chamran was born in 1932 in South Tehran. Graduating high school, he entered Tehran University’s Technical College. Thanks to his religious enthusiasm, he attended Ayatollah Taleqani’s Tafsir (Quranic exegesis) and Martyr Motahhari’s Mantiq (logic) and Philosophy classes since he was only 15. During his time in the University of Tehran he was an active member of the University’s Islamic Association of Students and took part in struggles for the nationalization of Iran’s Oil Industry. In 1953, he was awarded a scholarship for his outstanding academic record to continue his studies at the University of California, where he founded an Islamic Students Association. The regime cut his scholarship upon being informed of his Islamic activities abroad, but he obtained his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Plasma Physics with the highest honors.

Following the June 5 [15 Khordad] uprising, he resolved to initiate armed struggle with the regime; so he departed for Egypt to receive 2 years of guerrilla warfare training. He found disagreement with Gamal Abdel Nasser and his Arab nationalism and so left for Lebanon after his death. In Lebanon he began  training Iranian combatants and established, in coordination with Imam Musa Sadr, Harakat Al-Mahroumin (the Movement of the Deprived) and its military branch, Amal. With the Islamic Revolution coming to an end, he returned to Iran, as recommended by Imam Khomeini, and initially began training the first group of the Islamic Revolutionary Guardian Corps and at the same time was appointed Deputy Prime Minister. He exhibited great courage during the Kurdistan strife, which persuaded Imam Khomeini to appoint him Minister of Defense and then as the Imam’s representative to the High Council of Defense. He was elected into the 1^st term of the National Consultative Assembly [Parliament] as a representative from Tehran, but with the beginning of the Iraqi Imposed War on Iran he departed to the fronts and founded the Irregular Warfare Headquarters. He was wounded in Sosangerd but would not rest, as he returned to the war fronts and created many epics. He was eventually martyred on June 21, 1981, in Dehlavieh.

Imam Khomeini’s message on the martyrdom of Chamran

In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

We are from God and to Him We Shall Return

We send our condolences and congratulations to Imam Mahdi (AS) for the martyrdom of Dr. Mostafa Chamran, one of the noble commanders of Islam and a committed mujahid of God’s way. Our condolence for the loss of an outstanding warrior who created many epics in the fronts of battle with Falsehood, whether in Iran or Lebanon, and aimed at nothing but the honor of our dear Islam and the victory of Truth over Falsehood. He was a pious combatant and committed teacher that our Islamic country was in great need of.

Congratulations for bringing such great commanders up and sacrificing them in favor of the oppressed nations and masses. Is it not true that true life lies in belief, and jihad for the sake of it? Enjoying a clean and pure belief, non-affiliated to political groups and parties, and believing in Divine Purpose, dear Chamran pursued Jihad in God’s name throughout his life. He remained adhered to the Sirat in his life and committed jihad and sacrificed his life in this way. He lived with pride and was martyred with pride too, and went to meet The Truth. The art is to perform jihad in God’s name, far from political fanfare and satanic ostentation, and sacrifice oneself for the true goal, not lust; This is the art of the men of God. He moved on to the presence of God Almighty in a manner befitting im. May God bless his Soul, And his Memory always remain in our Heart. We can take part in the same art he did; we ask God to hold our hands and bring us out of ignorance and sensuality. I extend my condolences to the honorable Iranian and Lebanese nations and all Muslim nations of the world, to all the truth-seeking armed forces and warriors, as well as the family and brother of this dear mujahid. May Allah shower him with mercy and bring patience to his family.

Ruhollah Al-Musavi Al-Khomeini

June 22, 1981