Qasem-Ali Zahirnejad (; 9 October 1924 â 13 October 1999) was an Iranian military officer.
Zahirnejad began studies in the Officers' School in 1951. He retired from the army in 1976 with the rank of colonel. He returned following the Iranian Revolution in 1979 to prevent a rebellion in Kurdistan, becoming the commander of 64th Infantry Division. In 1980, Zahirnejad was promoted to brigadier general, leading the gendarmerie, before being promoted a year later to the position of President of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Throughout the IranâÂÂIraq War, his insistence on regular military commanders and conventional tactics led to clashes with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Zahirnejad retired on 6 November 1989 with the rank of major general. He died of a stroke in Tehran on 13 October 1999.