Mohammad-Vali Gharani

Mohammad-Vali Gharani (Persian: محمدولی قرنی‎) was an Iranian military officer who served as the first Chief-of-Staff of the Iranian Army after the Iranian Revolution, from 12 February 1979[2] to 27 March 1979, when he was forced out.[1]

Timsar Mohammad-Vali Gharani
Born	Seyyed Mohammad-Vali Gharani 1913[1] Tehran, Iran
Died	April 23, 1979(1979-04-23) (aged 66)[1] Tehran, Iran
Cause of death	Assassination
Resting place	Fatima Masumeh Shrine, Qom
Alma mater	Officers' Academy[1] War College[1]
Conviction(s)	Disobeying orders, Attempting to overthrow the throne (1958); Undermining national security (1963)[1]
Criminal penalty	3 years in prison (1958); 2 years in prison (1963)[1]
Date apprehended	1958–1961; 1963–1965
Military career
Allegiance	Iran
Service/branch	Imperial Iranian Army Islamic Republic of Iran Army
Years of service	1930–1958; 1979[1]
Rank	Major general[2]
Commands held	Second Bureau[1] Chief-of-Staff
Battles/wars	1953 Iranian coup d'état[1] 1979 Kurdish rebellion
Other work	Member of the Council of the Islamic Revolution

By August 1953, Gharani was commander of the Rasht Brigade and loyal to the Shah. He met with Ardeshir Zahedi and helped 1953 Iranian coup d'état. Following the coup, he was promoted to vice Chief-of-Staff.[1] In 1957, when SAVAK was established, he reportedly was a candidate to take office as head of the newly established secret service.[1] Gharani however had become increasingly critical of regime due to 'endemic corruption' over the past years, unbeknownst to the authorities.[1] He planned a coup d'état against the regime which was exposed, leading to dishonorable discharge in 1958. He was imprisoned twice in 1958 and 1963.[2]

He was assassinated on 23 April 1979 by Forqan Group.[2]