Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, born on August 25, 1934, was a prominent Iranian Shia cleric and politician who played a pivotal role in shaping the Islamic Republic of Iran. Serving as the fourth president from 1989 to 1997, he was a key figure among the founding fathers of the republic. His leadership extended beyond the presidency; he was the head of the Assembly of Experts from 2007 until 2011 and held the position of chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council.

Throughout his four-decade career, Rafsanjani wielded significant influence, having served as the speaker of parliament and Commander-in-Chief during the Iran–Iraq War. He was instrumental in selecting Ali Khamenei as the supreme leader of Iran. His presidency began after a successful election in 1989, followed by another term in 1993. However, his attempt to secure a third term in 2005 ended in defeat against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Rafsanjani faced political challenges, particularly during the 2009 protests, which led to his family's political isolation due to their support for the opposition. He sought to return to the political arena in the 2013 presidential election but was disqualified by the Guardian Council. Nevertheless, with the election of Hassan Rouhani, whom Rafsanjani supported, his family's political standing began to recover.

Rafsanjani passed away in 2017 at the age of eighty-two due to a heart attack, although his sudden death raised suspicions of foul play, with his family alleging murder. Investigations revealed that his body exhibited high levels of radioactivity. Known as a pragmatic Islamic conservative, he was often referred to as a 'veteran kingmaker' and advocated for a capitalist free market, promoting the privatization of state-owned industries while seeking to maintain peaceful relations with the West.

In addition to his political endeavors, Rafsanjani was a founding member of Azad University and, in 2003, Forbes estimated his wealth to exceed one billion US dollars, highlighting his significant influence in both political and economic spheres.