Sadavir Hatami
Sadavir Hatami | |
|---|---|
| ساداور حاتمی | |
 | |
| Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defence Command | |
| Assumed office 18 November 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Adavazdar Golzadari |
| Commander of the Inter-Services Discipline Office | |
| In office 20 April 2016 – 18 November 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Zeidan Kara |
| Succeeded by | Javad Khanzadi |
| In office 9 June 2003 – 17 August 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Haider Ali Nasr |
| Succeeded by | Hassan Karimpour |
| Director of the State Commission for Societal Defence | |
| In office 3 February 2012 – 20 April 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Sadiollah Sandsari |
| Succeeded by | Mahmoud Gholfandiar |
| Director of the Inter-Services Public Affairs Office | |
| In office 17 August 2008 – 3 February 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Shireen Kasimzadeh |
| Succeeded by | Hadir Maaytah |
| Permanent member of the Central Command Council | |
| Assumed office 8 May 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Abdel Najm |
| Life-Member of the Superior Assembly | |
| Assumed office 8 May 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Abdel Najm |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 March 1959 Zahedan, Union of Khazestan and Pardaran |
| Political party | Revolutionary Masses Party (1979-1985) Zorasan Zendebad (1985-present) |
| Spouse | Maryam Hatami (1981-2009 d.) |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | Mahrdad Ali Sattari Academy |
| Nickname | “Captain Phosphorous” |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  Zorasani Irfanic Revolutionary Army Land Forces |
| Years of service | 1976-present |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | 4th Banner Army (2003-2009) |
| Battles/wars | Irvadistan War Zorasani-Chanwan Conflict |
| Awards |  Order of Nasr |
Sadavir Hatami (ساداور حاتمی b. 2 March 1959) is a Zorasani general and politician, who is currently serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defence Command. He also previously served as the head of the Inter-Service Discipline Office and the State Commission for Societal Defence.
Hatami joined the Zorasani Irfanic Revolutionary Land Forces in 1976 during the later stages of the Irvadistan War at the age of 17, where he saw extensive action as part of the 29th Takavaran Brigade, an elite infantry unit. In the post-war years, he steadily rose the ranks before attaining the rank of Brigadier General in 2000. He was granted command of the 4th Banner Army in 2003 and would reportedly play a prominent role during the Tufan according to some sources. In the fallout of the 2005 election, Hatami would command Zorasani government forces against various Chanwan insurgent groups that rose up in response to a crackdown on the Chanwan minority.
During the Zorasani-Chanwan Conflict, Hatami’s forces were regularly accused of using excessive force and are also accused of massacres and crimes against humanity by Chanwan civil society groups. The repeated use of white phosphorous on Chanwan towns and villages, earned Hatami the pejorative nickname of “Captain Phosphorous” by Chanwans. Ultimately, Hatami oversaw the defeat of the Chanwan insurgency and was lauded in public as a national hero and saviour.
In November 2018, Hatami was appointed to serve as Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defence Command. Many commentators have described Hatami as "one of the most influential military-politicians in modern Zorasani history" and it is widely believed that he holds numerous other posts that hidden from public view. For instance, he is believed to be a leading figure behind the development of the Wolves community groups that are answerable to the military and not the national government. He also serves as the spokesman for the Central Command Council, of which he is a permament member.
Early life and career
Hatami was born 3 February 1959 to a middle class family in Zahedan, his father, Abdolrahim was a senior figure within the ruling Revolutionary Masses Party and his mother was the deputy chairwoman of the RMP's women's wing. He was the eldest of three children, having a sister and brother. His brother was killed in action in Irvadistan in late 1979. He was politically engaged at a young age. After completing school, he attended the prestigious Imam Khosrow Military Academy, however, the outbreak of the Irvadistan War led to Hatami's cohort being deployed to combat. He saw action at the age of 17 in 1976. Following the war's end in 1979, Hatami returned to the academy to finish his studies and graduated at the rank of Second lieutenant in 1981.
Military career
Irvadistan War
Despite the war erupting in 1975, Hatami would join the frontlines until late 1976 after the UKP leadership issued a mass mobilisation order, including academy cadets. For several months Hatami was deployed with the 118th Motorised Regiment until in January 1977, he was re-deployed to serve with the 24th Takavaran Regiment, owing to his impressing of his superiors. As part of the 24th Takavaran, he joined one of the most elite infrantry units in the Irfanic Revolutionary Army, which was deployed behind Irvadi lines to conduct irregular operations and attacks on Irvadi command and control hubs.
Unlike many of his colleagues in the current Central Command Council, Hatami has refused to put his experiences to paper or in any format. In one passing comment to the Memorial Magazine, he said, "I say nothing now and always because what I experienced is no different from any one else, what they say we all endured."
Following the UKP's victory in 1979, Hatami was de-mobilised and he promptly returned to the military academy to complete his course and graduate, this is despite offers of immediate graduation by his superiors in recognition of his service.
Post-war
Hatami would graduate from the Imam Khosrow Military Academy in 1981 at the rank of Second Lieutenant, he would rapidly rise through the ranks, becoming a colonel in 1988. He was assigned command of the 45th Motorised Brigade, based in the eastern state of Ajad.
Throughout the 1990s he would serve in a multitude of administrative and supportive roles at the General Staff of the Irfanic Revolutionary Army, where he established relations with other rising figures. Consumate to his political upbringing, Hatami also served in roles within Zorasan Zendebad, the political party for elected military personnel, between 1993 and 1996, he served as its principal spokesperson and between 1996 and 1999, he served as its Deputy Media Director, establishing a variety of publications, including the now popular Ejlal newspaper.
In 2002, he was promoted to the rank of General and the same day, assumed a seat in the Superior Council and the Central Command Council, succeeding General Abdel Najm in both. His simultaneous appointment was unprecedented was met with some criticism. However, he responded to the criticism by urging politicians to “address the needs of the people, rather than worry about conventions of the armed forces.” Hatami was appointed to a series of administrative posts within Central Command Council, before becoming the Official Liaison to the Government in 2003, making the go-between for the CCC and the First Minister, a position he would hold intermittently for the next seventeen years.
He would go on to obtain notoriety during three internal conflicts, two against Kexri nationalists and against Chanwan nationalists following the Tufan. In wake of the latter, Hatami would become the central figure among reformists, many of whom blamed him for the collapse of the Saffron Era.
His successes against the Kexri and Chanwans would elevate Hatami within the military and the Central Command Council, being appointed to head the State Commission for Societal Defence and the Inter-Services Discipline Office.