Influential former Iranian leader Rafsanjani dead at age 82

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post



By Nasser Karimi?|?AP January 8 at 12:10 PM

TEHRAN, Iran — Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a wily political survivor and multimillionaire mogul who remained among the ruling elite despite moderate views, died Sunday, state TV reported. He was 82.

Iranian media reported earlier Sunday that he was taken to a hospital north of Tehran because of a heart condition. State television broke into programming to announce his death, the female newscaster’s voice quivering as she read the news.

She said Rafsanjani, “after a life full of restless efforts in the path of Islam and revolution, had departed for lofty heaven.”

Rafsanjani’s mix of sly wit and reputation for cunning moves — both in politics and business — earned him a host of nicknames such as Akbar Shah, or Great King, during a life that touched every major event in Iranian affairs since before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/influential-former-iranian-president-hospitalized/2017/01/08/4ecbbb84-d5bf-11e6-a0e6-d502d6751bc8_story.html?utm_term=.e968c06dc0ff&wpisrc=al_alert-world

[StevieM]

1. As they said when Pahlavi fled, Shah Raft. (eom)

[StevieM]

2. "But, in the end, many moderates turned to Rouhani as an indirect vote for Rafsanjani."

Not true. Rafsanjani was never loved, or even liked, by reform-minded Iranians.

If anything, people turned to Rouhani as an indirect vote for former President Mohammad Khatami.

[Hum]

3. Wow

I thought he died years ago.

[skamaria]

4. So long Rough St Johnny!

We hardly knew ye!😎

[Zambero]

5. Good-Bye, Rafsanjani B. Goode

[MADem]

6. Did Putin prepare him a cuppa tea, I wonder?

I think as long as Putin is around, food tasting is a growth industry.....