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Profile: Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Profile: Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
(about 10 hours later)
Rafsanjani has dominated Iranian politics since the 1980sAkbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has been a dominant figure in Iranian politics since the 1980s. Rafsanjani has dominated Iranian politics since the 1980s
Described as a "pragmatic conservative", he is part of the religious establishment, but also open to a broader range of views. Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has been a dominant figure in Iranian politics since the 1980s.
"This country must be managed in a non-partisan way," he said before the election, adding that in his earlier terms as president (1989-97) he chose ministers on merit. Described as a "pragmatic conservative", he is part of the religious establishment, but he is open to a broader range of views and has been more reflective on relations with the West.
On the nuclear issue, he says Iran is ready to negotiate, but "not to accept bullying and imposition". Ayatollah Rafsanjani was president for 8 years from 1987 and ran again in 2005. He lost to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the second round. He has been openly critical of the president since then.
And he has warned Washington that its "threats" are futile. He is still a powerful figure in Iranian politics as he heads two of the regime's most powerful bodies: the Expediency Council (which adjudicates disputes over legislation) and the Assembly of Experts (which appoints, and can theoretically replace, the Supreme Leader).
"Iran is not the place for acts of adventurism," he says. "We advise you to enter through the gate of peace." In the 2009 election he was a prominent backer of Mir Hossein Mousavi who contested the result that gave Mr Ahmadinejad a second term.
In 2002, Mr Rafsanjani was appointed head of the powerful Expediency Council, which arbitrates in disputes between the Majlis - Iran's parliament - and the Guardian Council, which can block legislation. He has close links to Iranian industry and business and is considered to be the richest man in Iran. He was featured in the Millionaire Mullahs section of the Forbes Rich List in 2003.
There have been persistent accusations that he amassed a personal fortune thanks to his political connections - allegations that he has always denied.
Khomeini followerKhomeini follower
Born in 1934 in south-eastern Iran to a family of farmers, he studied theology in the holy city of Qom with Ayatollah Khomeini, whose close follower he became. He was imprisoned several times under the Shah.Born in 1934 in south-eastern Iran to a family of farmers, he studied theology in the holy city of Qom with Ayatollah Khomeini, whose close follower he became. He was imprisoned several times under the Shah.
Mr Rafsanjani was Majlis speaker from 1980-89. In the last year of the 1980-88 war with Iraq, Ayatollah Khomeini appointed him acting commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Ayatollah Rafsanjani was speaker in the Majlis (Iran's parliament) from 1980-89. In the last year of the 1980-88 war with Iraq, Ayatollah Khomeini appointed him acting commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
He is seen as the main mover behind Iran's acceptance of the UN Security Council resolution which ended the war.He is seen as the main mover behind Iran's acceptance of the UN Security Council resolution which ended the war.
As president, Mr Rafsanjani sought to encourage a rapprochement with the West and re-establish Iran as a regional power. His influence in Lebanon helped to bring about the release of Western hostages there in the early 1990s. As president, Ayatollah Rafsanjani sought to encourage a rapprochement with the West and re-establish Iran as a regional power.
Domestically, he has sought to move Iran from the state-controlled economy of the war years to a more market-based system. His influence in Lebanon helped to bring about the release of Western hostages there in the early 1990s.
His critics say this policy failed to deliver on social justice. However, he opposed harsh Islamic penal codes and promoted better job prospects for women. Pragmatic politics
'US plots' Domestically, he pursued an economically liberal policy that critics said failed to deliver on social justice.
There have been persistent accusations that he amassed a personal fortune thanks to his political connections - allegations that he has always denied. However, he opposed harsh Islamic penal codes and promoted better job prospects for women.
After the war in Iraq, he used Friday prayers to denounce US "plots" in the region. His financial policies aimed to move Iran from the state-controlled economy of the Iran-Iraq war years to a more market-based system.
"Anyone who stretches out their hands towards Iran will have those hands cut off," he said in one sermon. In recent years he has condemned Mr Ahmadinejad's economic policies, accusing them of having seriously damaged Iran.
And in June 2003, he warned students who took to the streets over the slow pace of reform that the US was "pinning its hopes" on them. On the nuclear issue, he was in favour of negotiation with the West, but "not to accept bullying and imposition".
"They should take care they are not entrapped by the Americans' sinister networks." Indeed he warned Washington that its "threats" are futile.
He is married with five children. His younger daughter, Faezeh Hashemi, is a women's right activist whose journal Zan (Woman) was closed down by hardliners in 1997. In 2007, at Friday prayers, he spoke out against nuclear weapons and said he was disappointed that the US, which still has a nuclear arsenal, was trying to stop Iran from using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
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In 2002, Ayatollah Rafsanjani was appointed head of the powerful Expediency Council, which arbitrates in disputes between the Majlis and the Guardian Council, which can block legislation.
In 2006, he was elected to the Assembly of Experts and a year later was voted leader of the body which appoints the supreme leader.
Hardliners within the Assembly of Experts were strongly opposed to Ayatollah Rafsanjani's bid to remain as leader in elections in January 2009. He stood against Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi who is a supporter of President Ahmadinejad and won a convincing majority.
He was a prominent backer of Mr Mousavi in the 2009 presidential elections when he stood against President Ahmadinejad.
The relationship between Ayatollah Rafsanjani and President Ahmadinejad has come under further strain since campaigning for the 2009 election began.
Mr Ahmadinejad accused Mr Mousavi of being supported by corrupt politicians, and named Ayatollah Rafsanjani.
Ayatollah Rafsanjani penned a public letter to Ayatollah Khamenei, appearing blaming the Supreme Leader for remaining silent in the face of such accusations.
"If the system cannot or does not want to confront such ugly and sin-infected phenomena as insults, lies and false allegations made in that debate, how can we consider ourselves followers of the sacred Islamic system," he wrote in a rare public rebuke.