Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

President Rafsanjani

Hojjat ol-Islam Akbar Hashemi Bahramani (Persian: اکبر هاشمی بهرمانی), also known as Hashemi Rafsanjani (هاشمی رفسنجانی) (born August 25, 1934) is one of the most influential Iranian politicians, and the Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran.

Rafsanjani was President of Iran from August 17, 1989 to 1997, and as of 2004, the only president of Iran who has stepped down willingly: Banisadr was successfully impeached, Rajai was assassinated, Khamenei was promoted to Supreme Leader, and Khatami is still serving. Rafsanjani is considered a leading candidate to succeed Khatami in the next Presidential election, if he agrees to run again.

Rafsanjani was a key member of Iran's Revolutionary Council at the beginning of the new Islamic Republic, together with Mohammad Javad Bahonar, Mohammad Beheshti, Morteza Motahhari , and Abdolkarim Mousavi Ardabili .

Rafsanjani was also the first speaker for the Iranian Parliament since the beginning of the Islamic Republic until 1989. In 2000, in the first election after the expiration of his presidential term, he candidated himself for the Parliament elections again, but was not among the 30 representatives of Tehran successfully elected, as announced by the Ministry of Interior . The Council of Guardians then ruled numerous ballots "void" and were able to get him chosen as the 30th candidate. He became a member of parliament again, but resigned before swearing-in as an MP. He explained his reason as "being able to serve the people better in other posts". He is considering being a contender for the next presidential election coming up in few months.

Hashemi Rafsanjani is currently the Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council, that resolves legislative issues between the Parliament and the Council of Guardians and advises the supreme leader on matters of national policy. He is also the Deputy Chairman of the Assembly of Experts.

Rafsanjani has three sons Mohsen, Mehdi and Yasser who was named after Yasser Arafat [1] and also two daughters Fatemeh and Faezeh.