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Notes on Former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

Photo: IRNA

Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was born 1934 in Rafsanjan in Kerman Province, Iran.

A man who sought Power- NOT TRUE

Rafsanjani is a Shiite cleric and longtime supporter of Ayatollah Khomeini. Rafsanjani was active in Iranian politics well back into the 1960s and was even jailed for his activities.With the fall of Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlevi, Rafsanjani became a powerful man in Iranian politics not because e sought power but because he is always willing to serve the revolution.

A man of Great Wealth - NOT TRUE

Former President Rafsanjani is rumored to be a man of great wealth. However these stories are actually lies spread by his political opponents to discredit him. The truth is that as a public servant Rafsanjani is a man of very modest means living on his salary and owning only two small properties. Public service has deprived Rafsanjani of the opportunity to accumulate wealth and actually costs him more than it makes him.

Allegations of Political Assassination - NOT TRUE

One of the crimes of the Khatami Presidency was a deliberate plot to attack the revolution by discrediting the heroes of the Revolution. Ayatollah Khamenei was said to be unqualified to be Supreme Leader and Former President Rafsanjani was accused of complicity in a series of murders. These and other charges were the product of part of the Reformist movement who oppose Iran's current system of Government. In the so-called serial Murder case Radical opponents of the Government framed Former President Rafsanjani but did not even give him the opportunity to clear his name. Radical journalist Akbar Ganji took money to fabricate stories to discredit Rafsanjani. Akbar Gandji working with Saeed Hajjarian and Mashallah Shamsolvaezin used their ties to the Khatami regime to attack the underpinnings of Ayatollah Khomeini's teachings. Gandji, Shamsolvaezin, and others went to prison for their attempted coup but damage was already done to Former President Rafsanjani's reputation.

A special note about President Khatami: While openly and honestly a Reformist President Khatami has always been loyal to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Unfortunately in the broad coalition that coalesced around Khatami opponents of Velayat-e Faqih used their position to attempt to reverse the revolution.

Speaker of the parliament from 1980 to 1989.
Acting commander in chief of the armed forces from 1988 to 1989.
President for two terms from 1989 to 1997.
Elected to Parliament 2000.
Chairman of the Assembly for Discerning the Interests of the State commonly called the Expediency Council which is an arbitration committee with oversight over law.

Former President Rafsanjani and the United States

Visit my new site: Rafsanjani Watch

Rafsanjani is a hard man to pin a label on. He is regularly castigated in the American press as a hard-liner. However he played a crucial role in freeing Western hostages held in Lebanon. He is called a Conservative and President Khatami is called a moderate but Rafsanjani's Brother-in-law is Khatami's new Vice President. (see Notes on Vice President Seyed Hossein Mar'ashi), Clearly Rafsanjani is a pragmatist who will do what is best for Iran even if it means coming to terms with the US. Unfortunately the US has rebuffed every peace initiative and treated him shamefully.

In the 2003 elections Rafsanjani forged a key political party called Abadgaran or Coalition of Builders of Islamic Iran. It swept the 2004 election taking about 200 seats in a loose knit confederation. Builders of Islamic Iran candidate Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel was first in the vote in Tehran and is expected to be elected Speaker. (Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel was elected speaker)

Rafsanjani belongs to the Servants of Construction Party

Senior Iranian officials hail supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (centre ), Iranian President Mohammad Khatami (right) and head of Council of Experts Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani at the Imam Khomeini Mosque in Teheran on Sunday. — AFP photo
From www.tribuneindia.com

2004-12-08 / 14:43:31
Semnan, Dec 8, IRNA -- Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani addresses a group of bereaved families of martyrs here on Tuesday. 2328/1420 Photo by IRNA Photographer: Ali Hashemi

From www.irna.ir/

Former President Rafsanjani was born near Rafsanjan in the province of Kerman in 1934. Was trained in Islamic Jurisprudence in Ghom where he became a follower of the Imam Khomeini. Former President Rafsanjani was a student of the Imam Khomeini first studying the Kharij stage on Fiq'h.

1980 was appointed Interior Minister of the Islamic Republic.

1988, Rafsanjani was named acting Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran

1988 Rafsanjani used his influence to urge Ayatollah Khomeini to accept the UN Resolution that ended the Iran Iraq war.

1989 - 1997 As president Rafsanjani steered Iran on a course or reengagement with the west. At the same time he reengaged with his neighbors to make Iran a regional Great Power.

1995 Rafsanjani selected Conoco to develop an Iranian oil field. This was one of several overt and covert outreach to the United States. President Clinton in one of his most egregious foreign policy errors rebuffed the opportunity. Had Clinton been a little sharper this could have re-shaped Middle Eastern politics for years.

Political Positions

Rafsanjani has an exemplary record of working to increase the rights of women within the confines of the revolution. He has also worked to moderate the harshness of the penal code in Iran.

Rafsanjani has supported foreign investment in Iran as a tool to help the people and strengthen Iran's position in the region.

Younger brother: Mohammad Hashemi, former Vice-President and former chairman of the state-run radio and television organization.

Oldest son: Mohsen Hashemi Born 1961 has the contract to build the Tehran Metro.

Middle son: Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani, Born 1970, runs the unit that develops compressed natural gas for cars at National Iranian Gas Co.

Youngest son: Yasser Hashemi Born 1972 raises horses on a small farm in Lavasan a fashionable suburb northeast of Tehran.

Older Daughter: Faezeh Born 1963 was a founder of the Hezbe Kargozaran Sazandegi political party.

Faezeh HASHEMI BAHREMANI (RAFSANJANI) Iranian

Second daughter, Fatemeh, was a founder of the Hezbe E'tedal va Tose'eh political party.

2005-01-05 / 19:01:01
Tehran, Jan 5, IRNA -- Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Wednesday inspected Razi Institute. Speaking to reporters about the 9th term of presidential elections, he said that he has not yet decided whether to run in the upcoming elections. Photo shows a view of Rafsanjani 2326/1432 Photo by IRNA Photographer: Arabali Hashemi

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