Khomeini removes Bani-Sadr’s military command

Olof Palme’s third mediation mission ended without arranging a ceasefire. Iran had maintained that Iraqi troops must leave its territory before negotiations.

An Islamic mission proposed a ceasefire followed by troop withdrawals and negotiations. For Iran, the sequence raised the question of ending occupation before negotiating.

Envoys from Cuba, India, Zambia and the PLO arrived in Tehran from Baghdad. They described the mission as learning the sides’ positions, rather than presenting a finished peace plan.

A report described Iran’s Foreign Ministry calling renewed nonaligned peace suggestions encouraging, while state radio still opposed negotiating with Iraq.

William Eagleton and Tariq Aziz discussed improving U.S.–Iraqi relations and trade. The rapprochement developed while Iran was still fighting to recover occupied territory.

An ICRC operation returned 25 seriously wounded Iranian prisoners of war to Tehran airport. The return provided an early humanitarian route home during continuing combat.

A large protest against efforts to remove Bani-Sadr led to clashes and arrests in Tehran. Executions and repression followed, widening the internal crisis while Iran remained at war with Iraq.

Mostafa Chamran, a former defense minister and leader of irregular forces, was killed near Dehlavieh. His death became a prominent part of Iranian remembrance of the war’s first year.

Khomeini dismissed Bani-Sadr from the presidency following the Majlis vote. Iran’s early wartime president lost office as clerical leaders consolidated their control over the political system.

A bomb concealed in a tape recorder wounded Ali Khamenei during a mosque appearance. The attack injured a senior revolutionary figure months before he became Iran’s wartime president.