A confidant of Khomeini, Mr. Rafsanjani was the Speaker of Parliament for two consecutive terms until Khomeini’s death in 1989.
Mr. Rafsanjani’s presidency, a breathing space after the end of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, was marked by reconstruction, cautious reform and repairs to Iran’s relations with its Arab neighbours.
But it was also marred by human rights violations, rampant inflation and difficult relations with Europe, not least with Britain after the “death sentence”, or fatwa, handed down to writer Salman Rushdie by Khomeini.
After serving a maximum two consecutive terms, Mr. Rafsanjani played an important role in the election of the reformist Mohammad Khatami, who succeeded him as President from 1997 to 2005.
Mr. Rafsanjani was always a member of Iran’s top clerical body, the Assembly of Experts, charged with appointing — and if required dismissing — the country’s supreme leader.
Mr. Rafsanjani chaired the influential committee for several years.
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(Sourced from agencies, feature image courtesy:toledoblade.com)
