Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's tenure as the 5th president of Iran began with his Inauguration on 16 August 1989, 10 days after His predecessor officially became the Supreme Leader until he left office on 3 August 1997.
Rafsanjani's Presidency Rafsanjani adopted an "economy-first" policy, supporting a policy of privatization as opposed to leftist economic tendencies in the Islamic Republic.Pasri, Trita, Treacherous Alliance : the secret dealings of Israel, Iran and the United States, Yale University Press, 2007, p.132 Another source describes his administration as "economically liberal, politically authoritarian, and philosophically traditional" which put him in confrontation with the more radical deputies who in the majority in the Majles of Iran.Brumberg, Daniel, Reinventing Khomeini : The Struggle for Reform in Iran, University of Chicago Press, 2001, p.153
Domestic policy Rafsanjani advocated a free-market economy. With the state's coffers full, Rafsanjani pursued an economic liberalisation policy.Rafsanjani's political life reviewed — in Persian. 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 advocated maintaining a hard line against Western intervention in the Middle East while pursuing a policy of economic redistribution to Iran's poor. By espousing World Bank-inspired structural adjustment policies, Rafsanjani desired a modern industrial-based economy integrated into the global economy.Book: Factional politics in post-Khomeini Iran By Mehdi Moslem
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".Rafsanjani urges universities to cooperate with industries – Irna Among the projects he initiated is the Islamic Azad University.Rafsanjani to Ahmadinejad: We Will Not Back Down (ROOZ :: English) يادگارهاي مديريت 16 ساله :: RajaNews.Com ::
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.
Foreign policy Following years of deterioration in foreign relations under Khomeini during the Iran-Iraq war, Rafsanjani sought to rebuild ties among Arab states,Mafinezam, Alidad and Aria Mehrabi, Iran and its Place Among Nations, Greenwood, 2008, p.37 as well as with countries in Central Asia, including Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.Mohaddessin, Mohammad, Islamic Fundamentalism, Anmol, 2003, pp.70-72 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.Al-Ahram Weekly | Region | Showdown in Tehran
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 Ruhollah Khomeini's fatwa against the British author Salman Rushdie.Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Biography - Biography.com
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."Iran ready for comprehensive assistance to Iraqi nation – Rafsanjani – Irna
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.Book: Iran's Persian Gulf policy: from Khomeini to Khatami. By Christin Marschall
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.
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."Rafsanjani reassures West Iran not after A-bomb
Currency crisis From 1990 to 1995, 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.
Members of the cabinet
References
See also
Cabinet of Iran