Former Iranian president and Chairman of the Expediency Coucnil, Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, passed away due to heart attack on Sunday, January 8, 2017. Here is a brief look at the life of prominent Iranian prominent politician:

- Born in Iran’s southeastern city of Rafsanjan, Kerman Province, on August 25, 1934
- Married to Effat Mar'ashi in 1958
- Imprisoned from 1960 to 1979 for political activity against the Pahlavi regime
- Helped establish the Combatant Clergy Association in 1977
- Became a key member of the Council of the Islamic Revolution in 1977
- Elected as the first post-Revolution Parliament Speaker in 1980
- Served as Imam Khomeini’s Representative to the Supreme Council of National Defense (in Iraqi war) from 1980 to 89
- Appointed as Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in 1988
- Served as President for two terms from 1989 to 1997
- Ran in the 6th parliamentary elections in 2000, came in last on Tehran’s list, withdrew before being sworn in
- Lost in the 2005 presidential runoff election
- Served as Head of the Assembly of Experts from 2007 to 2011
- Ended his long-held position as Tehran Friday prayers leader in 2009
- Disqualified from running in 2013 presidential election
- Won in 2016 Assembly of Experts elections, ranking first on Tehran list
- Passed away after suffering a heart attack in Tehran on January 8, 2017

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