Ali Akbar Derakhshani (Persian: علی‌اکبر درخشانی; February 28, 1896 – March 27, 1978) was one of the founders of the New Iranian Army. He began his military service during the reign of Ahmad Shah Qajar.
Background Ali Akbar was born on February 28, 1896, in Tehran.عاقلی، شرح حال رجال سیاسی و نظامی معاصر ایران، ٦٦٧ His family was Azerbaijani and Shiite. His father, Ali Naqi Khan Kangerlu (son of Khan Mohammad Khan), was among the first Iranian officers of the Persian Cossack Brigade. He was born in 1863 in the village of Khaneqah Sorkh near Urmia, and he died in Tehran in 1903, where he was buried in Imamzadeh Masoom fa. Ali Akbar's grandfather, Reza Qolikhan, migrated from the Nakhchivan region to the south of the Aras River in 1828, following the Turkmancha treaty between the governments of Iran and Russia. Many people and tribal leaders unwilling to accept Russian citizenship did the same. Ali Akbar attended high school at the Cossack Brigade military school in Tehran. At the age of 18, he entered the Gendarmerie officer school and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. During his service in the gendarmerie, he was assigned to the 6th regiment of Lorestan. After participating in intense fighting to ensure regional order, he was reassigned to Isfahan with the 6th regiment. Later, he joined the National Defense Committee with this regiment in Sultanabad. He participated in the Bid Sorkh (Red Willow) pass battle between the Iranian forces and the Tsarist Russian army and was awarded medals for bravery in battle. خاطرات، چاپ آمریک
Cossack Brigade and Uniformed Troops: Gilan Wars In 1918, he resigned from the Gendarmerie and joined the Cossack army with the rank of second lieutenant. He served in the Cossack Atriyad in Rasht. Displaying great bravery in the wars with Mirza Kuchik Khan, he quickly rose through the ranks, reaching the rank of colonel within five years.عاقلی، رضا شاه و قشون متحدالشکل، ۱۳۳ At the age of 26 he was appointed as the commander of the Gilan brigade, one of the largest units in Iran's army. During this time, he was directly involved in fierce battles between the Iranian military and the Russian Bolshevik forces, who had invaded Gilan and occupied various areas, including the cities of Rasht, Bandar Anzali, and Astara. Afterward, he became the head of the Mazandaran military. His diary detailing the Gilan wars serves as a valuable source for historians. In these notes, General Derakhshani clearly wrote that while the people of Gilan fully supported Mirza Kuchik Khan against the government forces, they sincerely supported the soldiers of the Iranian government in the war with the Bolsheviks.* خاطرات سرتیپ علی اکبر درخشانی ، مجموعه تاریخ به روایت تاریخ سازان، تهران، صفحه سفید ، ٥٦ تا ١٤٨
Urmia: Command of the Sepahban Regiment and Forces of Three Provinces
On October 21, 1923, Ali Akbar Derakhshani was appointed as the commander of the newly established Sepahban regiment in his father's hometown, Urmia. This regiment had the crucial task of safeguarding the northwestern border areas of the country. Shortly after, he was entrusted with the command of the forces of three provinces - Urumieh, Khoy, and Salmas, which included the Layamout (Deathless) Cavalry Regiment. This marked the beginning of his extensive missions in the western regions of Iran.خاطرات سرتیپ علی اکبر درخشانی ، مجموعه تاریخ به روایت تاریخ سازان، تهران، صفحه سفید ، ١٥٧ خاطرات سرتیپ علی اکبر درخشانی ، مجموعه تاریخ به روایت تاریخ سازان، تهران، صفحه سفید ، ١٦٧
The people of Urmia and its surroundings had endured many hardships due to foreign occupation, prolonged bloody clashes among nomadic groups and sectarian conflicts, which resulted in murder, plunder, and insecurity. The city and its neighboring villages were left in semi-ruinous conditions. Two infantry companies and a machine gun company of the Sepahban regiment were housed in dilapidated buildings without basic amenities like toilets, forcing soldiers to relieve themselves in nearby alleys. Derakhshani worked tirelessly to address various shortcomings. Additionally, since other government offices were not fully established yet, he also focused on improving the living conditions of the people.خاطرات سرتیپ علی اکبر درخشانی ، مجموعه تاریخ به روایت تاریخ سازان، تهران، صفحه سفید ، ١٦٦
Within a few months, conditions for the residents began to improve. However, the soldiers' living conditions remained dire, with irregular and delayed delivery of salaries, rations, and clothing. The government lacked the funds to build barracks, leaving only the remnants of Russian barracks which locals had scavenged to repair their own homes. Derakhshani, with the cooperation of local commissions and support from residents, embarked on rebuilding a new barracks on the ruins. Ayatollah Arab Baghi, the religious authority of West Azerbaijan, encouraged the reconstruction effort. Without central government funding, Derakhshani mobilized residents to construct a thirty-meter avenue followed by additional squares and streets.خاطرات سرتیپ علی اکبر درخشانی ، مجموعه تاریخ به روایت تاریخ سازان، تهران، صفحه سفید ، ١٧٢
His other initiatives included establishing a telephone line between Urmia, Salmas, and Khoy, utilizing leftover wires from the Russian army, and recruiting builders and carpenters from Tabriz to expedite city reconstruction efforts.خاطرات سرتیپ علی اکبر درخشانی ، مجموعه تاریخ به روایت تاریخ سازان، تهران، صفحه سفید ، ١٧٣ خاطرات سرتیپ علی اکبر درخشانی ، مجموعه تاریخ به روایت تاریخ سازان، تهران، صفحه سفید ، ١٧٦
Campaign in the West
On November 5, 1924, Ali Akbar Derakhshani was appointed to lead the advance forces, composed of the Sepahban regiment and tribal forces, of a 4000-man military expedition to disarm nomads and restore order in the western regions of Iran. He spent twenty months and twenty-two days on this challenging campaign.خاطرات، چاپ آمریکا، ١٦٧
Soon he assumed command of the expeditions first column, succeeding Brigadier General Abul Hasan Pourzand. General Ahmad Agha Amir Ahmadi served as the Amir of Lashkar-e-Gharb (commander of the Western Army) during this time. Serious differences arose between Pourzand and Derakhshani regarding the strategy and management of the force from the outset.خاطرات، چاپ آمریکا، ١٧٤
The initial campaign objective was to assert control over Gholamreza Khan Abu Qadareh, the governor of Pushtkooh, who had defied central government authority. The campaign successfully did this and also disarmed tribes and nomadic groups in Pushtkooh, Kabirkooh, and other areas of Lorestan, as well as Kurdish regions surrounding Kermanshah, collecting over five thousand rifles from various clans— a significant step towards establishing security in the western region.خاطرات، چاپ آمریکا، ١٧٤
The campaign and 20-month march was marked by severe hardships, including hunger, thirst, and extreme weather conditions. Some troops resorted to consuming only dry corn kernels to stave off hunger, resulting in fatalities due to starvation and dehydration. The force lost all its 1000 camels due to lack of fodder and harsh weather, and two hundred horses and mules perished during a short period in the very high temperatures of Mansurabad region. Despite these challenges, the officers and men remained steadfast in their duties, and succeeded in achieving their objectives.خاطرات، چاپ آمریکا، ٢٠٦خاطرات، چاپ آمریکا، ١٨١
During this period, Derakhshani had only one five-day leave, during which he visited Shiite holy sites Al-Atabat Al-Aliyat in Iraq with permission from Reza Shah, crossing the border without identification and in civilian attire. Upon returning to Urmia (now Rezaieh) in 1926, the Sepahban regiment received a warm welcome from the local population.خاطرات، چاپ آمریکا، ١٨٤
During the subsequent four years in Urmia (which was recently renamed to Rezaieh), Derakhshani undertook various construction projects and completed ongoing works, including establishing the Red Lion and Sun Society. With a small symbolic initial funding from Ayatollah Mujtahid Arab Baghi, he established the first Iranian hospital in the region, providing medical care and services previously offered only by American religious missions. The hospital's establishment garnered support from the local populace, prompting increased donations to the Red Lion and Sun Society.خاطرات، چاپ آمریکا، ٢٠٧
Following the death of the regional brigade commander, Derakhshani assumed command of the brigade while retaining his previous position.
Lorestan and Ilam
On June 30, 1930, during a meeting at Saad Abad Palace, Reza Shah expressed concern over the prolonged unrest in Lorestan, despite 12 years of government military efforts, particularly in the Kabirkooh region, which posed a threat to the connectivity of Khuzestan Province with the rest of the country. He appointed Ali Akbar Derakhshani to resolve the situation swiftly, granting him the authority to receive direct orders from the Shah for crucial matters. Derakhshani assumed the role of military governor of Kabirkooh and Abdanan, replacing Brigadier Mohammad Ali Behzadi.خاطرات سرتیپ علی اکبر درخشانی ، مجموعه تاریخ به روایت تاریخ سازان، تهران، صفحه سفید ، ٢٢٩
Despite being placed under the command of the Brigadier General Abul Hasan Pourzand, conflicts between Porzand and Derakhshani persisted, leading to Pourzand's dismissal on August 2 of the same year by the order of Reza Shah. Derakhshani assumed control of the Pushtkooh government while retaining his previous position, effectively taking on the responsibilities of two brigadier generals while still a colonel.خاطرات سرتیپ علی اکبر درخشانی ، مجموعه تاریخ به روایت تاریخ سازان، تهران، صفحه سفید ، ٢٣٤
Derakhshani successfully quelled the unrest in Lorestan and persuaded non-compliant tribes in Pushtkooh to submit to the Iranian government. He implemented widespread disarmament, resettled nomadic populations, established comprehensive regulations, government departments, and enforced public conscription laws and other national statutes in the border region.
With Reza Shah's approval, Derakhshani oversaw infrastructure projects connecting the region to other parts of the country, including the construction of the first asphalt road and tunnel. He transformed Hossein Abad, the former center of Pushtkooh governors, into a city renamed Ilam and also renamed Mansourabad as Mehran Both actions were at the suggestion of Derakhshani to Reza Shah which met with the Shah's approval.خاطرات سرتیپ علی اکبر درخشانی ، مجموعه تاریخ به روایت تاریخ سازان، تهران، صفحه سفید ، ٢٣٧
Under Derakhshani's leadership, the region also saw significant progress in education, with the opening of several primary schools, the first such schools in the region. The improved security situation prompted the return of many Pushtkoohi immigrant families from Iraq, leading to tensions between Iran and Iraq due to depopulation of eastern Iraqi villages.خاطرات سرتیپ علی اکبر درخشانی ، مجموعه تاریخ به روایت تاریخ سازان، تهران، صفحه سفید ، ٢٤٤
Despite his achievements, Derakhshani was eventually relieved of his duties, and Brigadier Porzand was reinstated in his place. Attempts of to prosecute Derakhshani were unsuccessful. His tenure in the Ilam region lasted six years and three months.خاطرات سرتیپ علی اکبر درخشانی ، مجموعه تاریخ به روایت تاریخ سازان، تهران، صفحه سفید ، ٢٤٥ خاطرات سرتیپ علی اکبر درخشانی ، مجموعه تاریخ به روایت تاریخ سازان، تهران، صفحه سفید ، ٢٥٥
Private Royal Estates
In 1940, Ali Akbar Derakhshani assumed the role of head of Private Royal Estates Inspectorate. However, his tenure was short-lived due to his vocal opposition to the practices of the royal estates, including his objection to forced labor, which he expressed directly to Reza Shah. Consequently, he was dismissed from his position after just two months.خاطرات سرتیپ علی اکبر درخشانی ، مجموعه تاریخ به روایت تاریخ سازان، تهران، صفحه سفید ، ٢٧٣