Presidency of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

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Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
Hashemi Rafsanjani in 1987
Presidency of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
16 August 1989 – 3 August 1997
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
CabinetFirst cabinet, Second cabinet
PartyCombatant Clergy
Election1989, 1993
SeatPasteur St. Building

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
President16 August 19893 August 1997 CCA
First Vice President21 August 19893 August 1997 ECP
Chief of StaffAugust 198916 February 1994 Nonpartisan
19941996 ECP
29 May 1996August 1997 ECP
Ministers
Agriculture Minister29 August 198920 August 1997 ECP
Communications Minister29 August 198920 August 1997 ECP
Commerce Minister29 August 198916 August 1993 ICP
16 August 199320 August 1997 Nonpartisan
Construction Minister29 August 198920 August 1997 ECP
Cooperatives Minister29 August 198920 August 1997 ECP
Culture Minister29 August 198924 May 1992 ACC
16 July 199215 February 1994 ICP
22 February 199420 August 1997 ICP
Defence Minister29 August 198916 August 1993 ECP
16 August 199320 August 1997 Military
Finance Minister29 August 198916 August 1993 ECP
*17 August 19936 October 1993 Nonpartisan
6 October 199320 August 1997 ECP
Education Minister29 August 198920 August 1997 ECP
Energy Minister29 August 198920 August 1997 ECP
Foreign Minister29 August 198920 August 1997 ICP
Health Minister29 August 198913 January 1991 Nonpartisan
13 January 199116 August 1993 ECP
16 August 199320 August 1997 ICP
Housing Minister29 August 198916 August 1993 Nonpartisan
16 August 199320 August 1997 Nonpartisan
Roads Minister29 August 198916 August 1993 Nonpartisan
16 August 199320 August 1997 ECP
Mines and Metals Minister29 August 198920 August 1997 ECP
Light Industries Minister29 August 198920 August 1997 ECP
Heavy Industries Minister29 August 198920 August 1997 ECP
Intelligence Minister29 August 198920 August 1997 CCA
Interior Minister29 August 198916 August 1993 ACC
16 August 199320 August 1997 Nonpartisan
Justice Minister29 August 198920 August 1997 ECP
Labour Minister29 August 198920 August 1997 WH
Petroleum Minister20 August 198920 August 1997 ECP
Higher Education Minister29 August 198916 August 1993 AIMSI
16 August 199320 August 1997 Nonpartisan
Other cabinet-level officials
Physical Education Vice PresidentSeptember 198916 February 1994 ICP
16 February 199423 August 1997 ECP
Atomic Energy Vice President16 August 19893 September 1997 ECP
Environment Vice President16 August 198923 August 1997 Nonpartisan
Executive Vice President19891994 Nonpartisan
19941997 ECP
Legal and Parliamentary Vice President21 August 198923 August 1997 ECP
Plan and Budget Vice President19891994 Nonpartisan
19941997 Nonpartisan
Administrative Vice President16 August 198916 February 1994 ECP
16 February 199423 August 1997 Nonpartisan
Economic Vice PresidentAugust 199314 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]

Presidential terms of Iran
Preceded by Presidency of Rafsanjani
1989–1997 		Succeeded by
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