Presidency of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Presidency of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Hashemi Rafsanjani in 1987

Presidency of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
16 August 1989 – 3 August 1997

President

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

Cabinet| First cabinet, Second cabinet
Party| Combatant Clergy
Election| 1989, 1993
Seat| Pasteur St. Building

<- Ali Khamenei

Mohammad Khatami ->

* * *

Seal of the president

Presidency of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was the 5th and 6th government of Iran after Iranian Revolution. At that time, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was the president.

## Rafsanjani's Presidency

[edit]

Rafsanjani adopted an "economy-first" policy, supporting a privatization policy against leftist economic tendencies in the Islamic Republic.[1] Another source describes his administration as "economically liberal, politically authoritarian, and philosophically traditional" which put him in confrontation with more radical deputies in the majority in the Majles of Iran.[2]

### Domestic policy

[edit]

Rafsanjani advocated a free-market economy. With the state's coffers full, Rafsanjani pursued an economic liberalisation policy.[3] Rafsanjani's support for a deal with the United States over Iran's nuclear programme and his free-market economic policies contrasted with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his allies, who advocate maintaining a hard line against Western intervention in the Middle East while pursuing a policy of economic redistribution to Iran's poor.[4] By espousing World Bank inspired structural adjustment policies, Rafsanjani desired a modern industrial-based economy integrated into the global economy.[5]

Rafsanjani urged universities to cooperate with industries. Turning to the quick pace of developments in today's world, he said that with "the world constantly changing, we should adjust ourselves to the conditions of our lifetime and make decisions according to present circumstances".[6] Among the projects he initiated are Islamic Azad University.[7][8]

During his presidency, a period in which Rafsanjani is described by western media sources as having been the most powerful figure in Iran, the judicial system of Iran executed political dissidents, drug offenders, Communists, Kurds, Bahá'ís, and clerics.[9]

### Foreign policy

[edit]

Following years of deterioration in foreign relations under Khomeini during the Iran-Iraq war, Rafsanjani sought to rebuild ties among Arab states,[10] as well as with countries in Central Asia, including Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.[11] However, relations with European countries and the United States remained poor, even though Rafsanjani has a track record of handling difficult situations and defusing crises.[12]

He condemned both the United States and Iraq during the Persian Gulf War in 1991. After the war he strove to renew close ties with the West, although he refused to lift Khomeini's fatwa against the British author Salman Rushdie.[13]

Rafsanjani has said that Iran is ready to assist Iraq, "expecting nothing in return". On the other hand, he has said that "peace and stability" is a function of the "evacuation of the occupiers."[14]

Iran gave humanitarian help to the victims of the conflict. Iran sent truck loads of food and medicine to Iraq and thousands of Kuwaiti refugees were given shelters in Iran.[15]

Rafsanjani voiced support to Prince Abdullah's peace initiative and to "everything the Palestinians agree to". He was also clear that Iran's international interests must take precedence over those of Iranian allies in Syria and Lebanon.[12]

Rafsanjani is a supporter of Iran's nuclear program. In 2007 Rafsanjani reiterated that the use of weapons of mass destruction was not part of the Islamic Republic culture. Rafsanjani said: "You [US and allies] are saying that you cannot trust Iran would not use its nuclear achievements in the military industries, but we are ready to give you full assurances in this respect."[16]

#### Currency crisis

[edit]

During 1990–95, Rafsanjani's administration faced the brunt of the second-generation US economic sanctions. He failed to stop the Iranian rial from plunging 80% in value from 415 to 2,046 to the US dollar, triggering the rise of the modern underground and barter economic networks.[citation needed]

## Members of the cabinet

[edit]

Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party

|
|
|
|

Presidential Administration
President|

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

| 16 August 1989| 3 August 1997|  | CCA
First Vice President|

Hassan Habibi

| 21 August 1989| 3 August 1997|  | ECP
Chief of Staff|

Mohammad Mir-Mohammadi

| August 1989| 16 February 1994|  | Nonpartisan

Hossein Marashi

| 1994| 1996|  | ECP

Mohsen Hashemi Rafsanjani

| 29 May 1996| August 1997|  | ECP
Ministers
Agriculture Minister|

Issa Kalantari

| 29 August 1989| 20 August 1997|  | ECP
Communications Minister|

Mohammad Gharazi

| 29 August 1989| 20 August 1997|  | ECP
Commerce Minister|

Yahya Ale Eshaq

| 29 August 1989| 16 August 1993|  | ICP

Abdolhossein Vahaji

| 16 August 1993| 20 August 1997|  | Nonpartisan
Construction Minister|

Gholamreza Forouzesh

| 29 August 1989| 20 August 1997|  | ECP
Cooperatives Minister|

Gholamreza Shafeei

| 29 August 1989| 20 August 1997|  | ECP
Culture Minister|

Mohammad Khatami

| 29 August 1989| 24 May 1992|  | ACC

Ali Larijani

| 16 July 1992| 15 February 1994|  | ICP

Mostafa Mirsalim

| 22 February 1994| 20 August 1997|  | ICP
Defence Minister|

Akbar Torkan

| 29 August 1989| 16 August 1993|  | ECP

Mohammad Forouzandeh

| 16 August 1993| 20 August 1997|  | Military
Finance Minister|

Mohsen Nourbakhsh

| 29 August 1989| 16 August 1993|  | ECP

Abdolhossein Vahaji

(head of ministry)| 17 August 1993| 6 October 1993|  | Nonpartisan

Morteza Mohammadkhan

| 6 October 1993| 20 August 1997|  | ECP
Education Minister|

Mohammad-Ali Najafi

| 29 August 1989| 20 August 1997|  | ECP
Energy Minister|

Bijan Namdar Zanganeh

| 29 August 1989| 20 August 1997|  | ECP
Foreign Minister|

Ali Akbar Velayati

| 29 August 1989| 20 August 1997|  | ICP
Health Minister|

Iradj Fazel

| 29 August 1989| 13 January 1991|  | Nonpartisan

Reza Malekzadeh

| 13 January 1991| 16 August 1993|  | ECP

Alireza Marandi

| 16 August 1993| 20 August 1997|  | ICP
Housing Minister|

Serajeddin Kazerouni

| 29 August 1989| 16 August 1993|  | Nonpartisan

Abbas Ahmad Akhoundi

| 16 August 1993| 20 August 1997|  | Nonpartisan
Roads Minister|

Mohammad Saeedikia

| 29 August 1989| 16 August 1993|  | Nonpartisan

Akbar Torkan

| 16 August 1993| 20 August 1997|  | ECP
Mines and Metals Minister|

Hossein Mahlouji

| 29 August 1989| 20 August 1997|  | ECP
Light Industries Minister|

Mohammadreza Nematzadeh

| 29 August 1989| 20 August 1997|  | ECP
Heavy Industries Minister|

Mohammad Hadi Nejad Hosseinian

| 29 August 1989| 20 August 1997|  | ECP
Intelligence Minister|

Ali Fallahian

| 29 August 1989| 20 August 1997|  | CCA
Interior Minister|

Abdollah Nouri

| 29 August 1989| 16 August 1993|  | ACC

Ali Mohammad Besharati

| 16 August 1993| 20 August 1997|  | Nonpartisan
Justice Minister|

Mohammad Ismaeil Shooshtari

| 29 August 1989| 20 August 1997|  | ECP
Labour Minister|

Hossein Kamali

| 29 August 1989| 20 August 1997|  | WH
Petroleum Minister|

Gholamreza Aghazadeh

| 20 August 1989| 20 August 1997|  | ECP
Higher Education Minister|

Mostafa Moeen

| 29 August 1989| 16 August 1993|  | AIMSI

Mohammad-Reza Hashemi

| 16 August 1993| 20 August 1997|  | Nonpartisan
Other cabinet-level officials
Physical Education Vice President|

Hassan Ghafourifard

| September 1989| 16 February 1994|  | ICP

Mostafa Hashemitaba

| 16 February 1994| 23 August 1997|  | ECP
Atomic Energy Vice President|

Reza Amrollahi

| 16 August 1989| 3 September 1997|  | ECP
Environment Vice President|

Hadi Manafi

| 16 August 1989| 23 August 1997|  | Nonpartisan
Executive Vice President|

Hamid Mirzadeh

| 1989| 1994|  | Nonpartisan

Mohammad Hashemi Rafsanjani

| 1994| 1997|  | ECP
Legal and Parliamentary Vice President|

Ataollah Mohajerani

| 21 August 1989| 23 August 1997|  | ECP
Plan and Budget Vice President|

Masoud Roghani

| 1989| 1994|  | Nonpartisan

Hamid Mirzadeh

| 1994| 1997|  | Nonpartisan
Administrative Vice President|

Mansour Razavi

| 16 August 1989| 16 February 1994|  | ECP

Mohammad Mir-Mohammadi

| 16 February 1994| 23 August 1997|  | Nonpartisan
Economic Vice President|

Mohsen Nourbakhsh

| August 1993| 14 September 1994|  | ECP

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Pasri, Trita, Treacherous Alliance : the secret dealings of Israel, Iran and the United States, Yale University Press, 2007, p.132
2. ^ Brumberg, Daniel, Reinventing Khomeini : The Struggle for Reform in Iran, University of Chicago Press, 2001, p.153
3. ^ Rafsanjani's political life reviewed — in Persian.
4. ^ "Voice of ambition". The Guardian. London. 2006-06-23. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
5. ^ Book: Factional politics in post-Khomeini Iran By Mehdi Moslem
6. ^ Rafsanjani urges universities to cooperate with industries – Irna Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ Rafsanjani to Ahmadinejad: We Will Not Back Down (ROOZ :: English) Archived 2007-10-30 at the Wayback Machine
8. ^ يادگارهاي مديريت 16 ساله :: RajaNews.Com :: Archived 2007-03-13 at the Wayback Machine
9. ^ Sciolino, Elaine (July 19, 2009), "Iranian Critic Quotes Khomeini Principles", New York Times
10. ^ Mafinezam, Alidad and Aria Mehrabi, Iran and its Place Among Nations, Greenwood, 2008, p.37
11. ^ Mohaddessin, Mohammad, Islamic Fundamentalism, Anmol, 2003, pp.70-72
12. ^ a b Al-Ahram Weekly | Region | Showdown in Tehran Archived 2007-01-12 at the Wayback Machine
13. ^ Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Biography - Biography.com
14. ^ Iran ready for comprehensive assistance to Iraqi nation – Rafsanjani – Irna Archived 2007-01-14 at the Wayback Machine
15. ^ Book: Iran's Persian Gulf policy: from Khomeini to Khatami. By Christin Marschall
16. ^ Rafsanjani reassures West Iran not after A-bomb

## See also

[edit]

* Iran portal
* Politics portal

* Cabinet of Iran

Presidential terms of Iran

Preceded by

Presidency of Khamenei

|  Presidency of Rafsanjani
1989–1997  | Succeeded by

Presidency of Khatami

* v
* t
* e

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

* 4th President of Iran (1989–1997)
* Chairman of the Parliament (1980–1989)
* Chairman of the Expediency Council (1989–2017)
* Chairman of the Assembly of Experts (2007–2011)

| Life and politics|

* Presidency
* Electoral history
* 1980 legislative election
* 1984 legislative election
* 1989 presidential election
* 1993 presidential election
* 2000 legislative election
* 2005 presidential election
* 2013 presidential election (campaign)

|

Political parties|

* Islamic Republican Party (1979–1987)
* Combatant Clergy Association (1988–2009)

Books|

* Collection of daily memos
* Tafsir Rahnama
* Amir Kabir

Related articles|

* Islamic Azad University
* 2009 election protests
* 2009 presidential election
* Iranian Green Movement
* Death and state funeral

Family|

* Effat Marashi (wife)
* Fatemeh Hashemi Rafsanjani (daughter)
* Mohsen Hashemi Rafsanjani (son)
* Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani (daughter)
* Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani (son)
* Yasser Hashemi Rafsanjani (son)
* Mohammad Hashemi Rafsanjani (brother)

* ← Ali Khamenei
* Mohammad Khatami →

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Presidents of Iran (list)

* Abolhassan Banisadr (1980–1981)
* Mohammad-Ali Rajai (1981)
* Ali Khamenei (1981–1989)
* Akbar Rafsanjani (1989–1997)
* Mohammad Khatami (1997–2005)
* Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005–2013)
* Hassan Rouhani (2013–2021)
* Ebrahim Raisi (2021–2024)
* Mohammad Mokhber (acting, 2024)
* Masoud Pezeshkian (2024–present)

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template