Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

Role / Field:

Iranian Shia cleric and politician; served as President of Iran from 1989 to 1997.

Born:

1934-08-25

Died:

2017-01-08

Century / Era:

1934s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Ali Akbar Hashemi Bahramani Rafsanjani (né Bahramani; 25 August 1934 – 8 January 2017) was an Iranian Shia cleric and politician who was the president of Iran from 1989 to 1997. One of the founding fathers of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Rafsanjani was the head of the Assembly of Experts from 2007 until 2011 when he decided not to nominate himself for the post. He was also the chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council. During his 40-year tenure, Rafsanjani amassed a large amount of power serving as the speaker of parliament, Commander-in-Chief during the Iran–Iraq War, president, and chose Ali Khamenei as the supreme leader of Iran. Rafsanjani became President of Iran after winning the 1989 election.

Career & Major Achievements

He served another term by winning the election in 1993. In the 2005 election he ran for a third term in office, placing first in the first round of elections but ultimately losing to rival Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the run-off. He and his family faced political isolation for their support of the opposition in 2009. Rafsanjani entered the race for the 2013 presidential election, but he was disqualified by the Guardian Council. With Hassan Rouhani's election, in which Rafsanjani openly supported him, the Rafsanjani family gradually recovered their political reputation.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Rafsanjani died in 2017, following a heart attack, in a hospital in Tehran at the age of 82. Although government officials attributed his death to cardiac arrest, his sudden death prompted speculation that he had been assassinated. His family strongly asserted that he had been murdered. Further investigation revealed that his body was highly radioactive. Rafsanjani has been described as a pragmatic Islamic conservative.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1934 (1934-08-25): Birth of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani — Iranian Shia cleric and politician; served as President of Iran from 1989 to 1997.
2. 1989: 1989 Milestone — Rafsanjani became President of Iran after winning the 1989 election.
3. 1993: 1993 Milestone — He served another term by winning the election in 1993.
4. 2005: 2005 Milestone — In the 2005 election he ran for a third term in office, placing first in the first round of elections but ultimately losing to rival Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the run-off.
5. 2007: 2007 Milestone — One of the founding fathers of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Rafsanjani was the head of the Assembly of Experts from 2007 until 2011 when he decided not to nominate himself for the post.
6. 2009: 2009 Milestone — He and his family faced political isolation for their support of the opposition in 2009.
7. 2013: 2013 Milestone — Rafsanjani entered the race for the 2013 presidential election, but he was disqualified by the Guardian Council.
8. 2017 (2017-01-08): Passing & Historical Legacy — Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani passed away on 2017-01-08, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

True or False: “Did Rafsanjani's family face political isolation immediately after the 2005 presidential election?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The family faced political isolation later, specifically following their support of the opposition during the 2009 elections.

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