Khamenei wins a second presidential election in 1981

UPI relayed an ABC investigation into Israeli military supplies reaching Iran during the hostage crisis. The reporting described spare-parts transactions that predated the later Iran-Contra channel.

A bomb at the prime minister’s office killed President Mohammad Ali Rajai and Prime Minister Mohammad Javad Bahonar. Iran again faced a leadership vacancy during its first year of war.

The closing phase of Operation Samen ol-A’emmeh restored access to Abadan and drove Iraqi units away from the eastern bank of the Karun River. The breakthrough was an important Iranian defensive...

An Iranian C-130 crashed near Tehran, killing commanders including Fallahi, Fakouri, Namjou, Kolahdouz and Jahanara. The disaster removed important military leaders soon after the Abadan relief...

Kuwait reported an attack by Iranian aircraft. The allegation brought regional airspace and Iraq’s Gulf supporters into the conflict beyond the main Iran–Iraq front.

Ali Khamenei was sworn in as Iran’s third president. His inauguration followed successive presidential removal and assassination as the country’s institutions operated under wartime pressure.

The U.S. Senate voted 52-48 against blocking an arms package for Saudi Arabia, including AWACS aircraft. Approval extended the security relationship strengthened during the Iran-Iraq war.

The Majlis approved Mir-Hossein Mousavi as prime minister after rejecting Khamenei’s first choice. Mousavi became a central manager of Iran’s wartime government and economy.

At its Manila conference, the ICRC accused Iran and Iraq of violating prisoner protections, including conditions and access. Humanitarian obligations applied to both governments.

Rafsanjani urged Iranians to increase bank savings to help economic recovery during the war. Mobilization extended beyond the front to household finances.