Nader Mahdavi (Persian: نادر مهدوی) or Hossein Basria (Persian: حسین بسریا) was an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval commander[2] who fought against United States naval forces and cruisers on 24 July 1987.[3][4][5]
Nader Mahdavi | |
---|---|
Birth name | Hossein Basria |
Born | 4 June 1963 Dashti County, Bushehr Province, Iran |
Died | 8 October 1987 Farsi island, Persian Gulf, Iran |
Allegiance | Iran |
Service | Revolutionary Guards[1] |
Years of service | 1981–1987[1] |
Commands | Zolfaghar Naval Squadron[1] |
Battles / wars | |
Website | Nader Mahdavi Website |
Short biography
editHossein Basria was born on 4 June 1963 in Nokar village, Dashti County, Bushehr Province. When he was in high school, economic issues and his political activities made him leave school and he started working in his father's store. After the Iranian revolution, he joined the Basij group. When Iran-Iraq war started, he wanted to go to battlefields but he was underage and was prevented from entering the war. On 20 April 1981, he was employed in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He married Sakineh Jokar in 1982.[6][7]
First battle with United States
editAt the end of the Iran–Iraq War, the Persian Gulf was an unsafe place for Iranians, because Iraqi forces could easily bomb Iranian ships and oil platforms. Also, American naval forces protected Kuwaiti ships in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps informed Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of Iran, about American cruisers in the Persian Gulf. Khomeini said, "If it was me, i would attack them". For this reason, Nader Mahdavi prepared his forces for operations against American cruisers.[7][8][9]
Nader Mahdavi's mission was preventing Bridgeton's movement.
On 24 July 1987, three U.S. warships escorted the Kuwaiti oil tanker al-Rekkah into the Persian Gulf. By mutual agreement, Al-Rekkah had been renamed Bridgeton and sailed under U.S. flag. USS Crommelin, USS Fox, and USS Kidd. Thirteen miles west of Iran's Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf, the tanker hit an underwater mine, denting its hull but leaving it seaworthy. For the rest of the journey, the warships sailed in the tanker's wake.[6][7][8][9][10][11]
Death
editOn 8 October 1987, Mahdavi and his soldiers went to Persian Gulf for patrolling[10] and they took one Stinger missile.[12] Near Farsi, an American helicopter attacked them in the night and the Stinger automatic system activated and shot it down.[13] After a 20-minute battle, Mahdavi was arrested by American forces. Six days after his death, his body was sent to Iran from Oman.[7] Iranian state media outlets said his hands and feet were tied very tightly and his chest was pierced with long iron nails, suggesting he was tortured aboard the USS Chandler;[14] no independent sources have confirmed this.
In popular culture
editFilms
edit- Encounter With Devil (Persian: رو در رو با شیطان) is documentary film that narrates the war between Iran and United States in Persian Gulf. There are some episodes in the film that show Nader Mahdavi's interview of that time.[15]
Books
edit- Nader, My Brother Hossein (Persian: نادر، برادرم حسین) are Nader Mahdavi's brother's memories about him as recorded by Seyyid Ghasim Yahosseini. The book, published by Fatehan Publication Company, is first book about Mahdavi.[16][17][18][19]
- A second was Behind the Wave Stronghold (Persian: پشت سنگر موج). The narrators Hassan Sharifi and Seyyid Ghasim Yahosseini recorded their memories about Nader. In 2009, the book was published by Fatehan Publication Company in 3,000 copies.[19][20]
- Once Again, Nader (Persian: بار دیگر، نادر) is a biography of Nader Mahdavi by Seyyid Ghasim Yahosseini. The book was published by Fatehan Publication Company in 2015.[17]
Postage stamp
edit- On 8 April 2015, Nader Mahdavi's postage stamp was released in Bushehr Province.[21]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Biography of Nader Mahdavi" (in Persian). Retrieved 17 November 2017.
- ^ Arasli, Jahangir (April 2010). "Obsolete Weapons, Unconventional Tactics, and Martyrdom Zeal: How Iran Would Apply its Asymmetric Naval Warfare Doctrine in a Future Conflict". Occasional Paper Series (10): 15. ISSN 1863-6039.
- ^ Thomas Badey (15 February 2008). Annual Editions: Violence and Terrorism 08/09. McGraw-Hill Companies,Incorporated. ISBN 9780073397764.
- ^ "Ayatollah Khamenei receives commanders and staff of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy, a group of their families, as well as families of IRGC Navy martyrs". leader.ir. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ^ "Leader's speech in meeting with commanders and personnel of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps". www.english.khamenei.ir. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Nader Mahdavi in direct battle with United States". www.rajanews.com. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ^ a b c d Staff Writers (7 October 2014). "Rare myth; American nightmares". www.mashreghnews.ir. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ^ a b Puryazdan Parast, Muhammad Hashim (4 October 2014). "Martyr who broke the pride of America". www.revolution.shirazu.ac.ir. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ^ a b Arya, Ehsan (1 August 2012). "American carriers epic nightmare martyr "Nader Mahdavi" will never be forgotten". www.yjc.ir. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ^ a b Crist, David (2013). The twilight war : the secret history of America's thirty-year conflict with Iran. New York: The Penguin Press. ISBN 978-1-101-57234-4.
- ^ Hakimi, Erfan. "America's reputation explosion in the Persian Gulf". www.borhan.ir. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ^ Engelberg, Stephen; E. Trainor, Bernard. "Iranians Captured Stinger Missiles From Afghan Guerrillas, U.S. Says". New York Times. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
- ^ "Pak general says Iran stole Stinger missiles". iran-times.com. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
- ^ Martyr who broke America's pride/ biography of Martyr Nader Mahdavi at the Wayback Machine (archived February 24, 2021)
- ^ "Encounter with Devil". Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ^ "Nader, my brother Hossein". fardanews.com. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Once again, Nader! / The martyr, is continuing Ali Delvari". fardanews.com. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- ^ "Nader, my brother Hossein (Oral memories of Mahdavi's brother)". bookroom.ir. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- ^ a b "The second book of Nader Mahdavi's life released". Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- ^ "Behind the wave stronghold published". Ibna.ir. 2010-04-20. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- ^ "Nader Mahdavi's postage stamp released". citna.ir. 2015-04-11. Retrieved 21 December 2015.