Akbar Rafsanjani
Ali 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 successfuly 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.
Hashemi Rafsanjani is currently the Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council, that resolves legislative issues between the Parliament and the Council of Guardians and advices the supreme leader on matters of national policy. He is also the Deputy Chairman of the Assembly of Experts.
Rafsanjani can be considered as one of the richest politicians of the world.
Hashemi Rafsanjani is called by some an Ayatollah, but by some other people as Hojjat ol-Islam.
Rafsanjani has three sons Mohsen, Mehdi and Yasser (named after Yasser Arafat [1]) and two daughters Fatemeh and Faezeh.