# Presidency of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

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

Rafsanjani adopted an "economy-first" policy, supporting a privatization policy against leftist economic tendencies in the Islamic Republic. 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.

### Domestic policy

Rafsanjani advocated a free-market economy. With the state's coffers full, Rafsanjani pursued an economic liberalisation policy. 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. By espousing World Bank inspired structural adjustment policies, Rafsanjani desired a modern industrial-based economy integrated into the global economy.
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". Among the projects he initiated are Islamic Azad University.
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, as well as with countries in Central Asia, including Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. 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.
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.
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 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.
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."

#### Currency crisis

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.

## Members of the cabinet

| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party |
| Presidential Administration ||||||
| President | Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani | 16 August 1989 | 3 August 1997 | CCA |
| First Vice President | Hassan Habibi | 21 August 1989 | 3 August 1997 | ECP |
| Chief of Staff | Mohammad Mir-Mohammadi | August 1989 | 16 February 1994 | Nonpartisan |
| Chief of Staff | Hossein Marashi | 1994 | 1996 | ECP |
| Chief of Staff | Mohsen Hashemi Rafsanjani | 29 May 1996 | August 1997 | ECP |
| Ministers ||||||
| Agriculture Minister | Issa Kalantari | 29 August 1989 | 20 August 1997 | ECP |
| Communications Minister | Mohammad Gharazi | 29 August 1989 | 20 August 1997 | ECP |
| Commerce Minister | Yahya Ale Eshaq | 29 August 1989 | 16 August 1993 | ICP |
| Commerce Minister | Abdolhossein Vahaji | 16 August 1993 | 20 August 1997 | Nonpartisan |
| Construction Minister | Gholamreza Forouzesh | 29 August 1989 | 20 August 1997 | ECP |
| Cooperatives Minister | Gholamreza Shafeei | 29 August 1989 | 20 August 1997 | ECP |
| Culture Minister | Mohammad Khatami | 29 August 1989 | 24 May 1992 | ACC |
| Culture Minister | Ali Larijani | 16 July 1992 | 15 February 1994 | ICP |
| Culture Minister | Mostafa Mirsalim | 22 February 1994 | 20 August 1997 | ICP |
| Defence Minister | Akbar Torkan | 29 August 1989 | 16 August 1993 | ECP |
| Defence Minister | Mohammad Forouzandeh | 16 August 1993 | 20 August 1997 | Military |
| Finance Minister | Mohsen Nourbakhsh | 29 August 1989 | 16 August 1993 | ECP |
| Finance Minister | Abdolhossein Vahaji(head of ministry) | 17 August 1993 | 6 October 1993 | Nonpartisan |
| Finance Minister | Morteza Mohammadkhan | 6 October 1993 | 20 August 1997 | ECP |
| Education Minister | Mohammad-Ali Najafi | 29 August 1989 | 20 August 1997 | ECP |
| Energy Minister | Bijan Namdar Zanganeh | 29 August 1989 | 20 August 1997 | ECP |
| Foreign Minister | Ali Akbar Velayati | 29 August 1989 | 20 August 1997 | ICP |
| Health Minister | Iradj Fazel | 29 August 1989 | 13 January 1991 | Nonpartisan |
| Health Minister | Reza Malekzadeh | 13 January 1991 | 16 August 1993 | ECP |
| Health Minister | Alireza Marandi | 16 August 1993 | 20 August 1997 | ICP |
| Housing Minister | Serajeddin Kazerouni | 29 August 1989 | 16 August 1993 | Nonpartisan |
| Housing Minister | Abbas Ahmad Akhoundi | 16 August 1993 | 20 August 1997 | Nonpartisan |
| Roads Minister | Mohammad Saeedikia | 29 August 1989 | 16 August 1993 | Nonpartisan |
| Roads Minister | Akbar Torkan | 16 August 1993 | 20 August 1997 | ECP |
| Mines and Metals Minister | Hossein Mahlouji | 29 August 1989 | 20 August 1997 | ECP |
| Light Industries Minister | Mohammadreza Nematzadeh | 29 August 1989 | 20 August 1997 | ECP |
| Heavy Industries Minister | Mohammad Hadi Nejad Hosseinian | 29 August 1989 | 20 August 1997 | ECP |
| Intelligence Minister | Ali Fallahian | 29 August 1989 | 20 August 1997 | CCA |
| Interior Minister | Abdollah Nouri | 29 August 1989 | 16 August 1993 | ACC |
| Interior Minister | Ali Mohammad Besharati | 16 August 1993 | 20 August 1997 | Nonpartisan |
| Justice Minister | Mohammad Ismaeil Shooshtari | 29 August 1989 | 20 August 1997 | ECP |
| Labour Minister | Hossein Kamali | 29 August 1989 | 20 August 1997 | WH |
| Petroleum Minister | Gholamreza Aghazadeh | 20 August 1989 | 20 August 1997 | ECP |
| Higher Education Minister | Mostafa Moeen | 29 August 1989 | 16 August 1993 | AIMSI |
| Higher Education Minister | Mohammad-Reza Hashemi | 16 August 1993 | 20 August 1997 | Nonpartisan |
| Other cabinet-level officials ||||||
| Physical Education Vice President | Hassan Ghafourifard | September 1989 | 16 February 1994 | ICP |
| Physical Education Vice President | Mostafa Hashemitaba | 16 February 1994 | 23 August 1997 | ECP |
| Atomic Energy Vice President | Reza Amrollahi | 16 August 1989 | 3 September 1997 | ECP |
| Environment Vice President | Hadi Manafi | 16 August 1989 | 23 August 1997 | Nonpartisan |
| Executive Vice President | Hamid Mirzadeh | 1989 | 1994 | Nonpartisan |
| Executive Vice President | Mohammad Hashemi Rafsanjani | 1994 | 1997 | ECP |
| Legal and Parliamentary Vice President | Ataollah Mohajerani | 21 August 1989 | 23 August 1997 | ECP |
| Plan and Budget Vice President | Masoud Roghani | 1989 | 1994 | Nonpartisan |
| Plan and Budget Vice President | Hamid Mirzadeh | 1994 | 1997 | Nonpartisan |
| Administrative Vice President | Mansour Razavi | 16 August 1989 | 16 February 1994 | ECP |
| Administrative Vice President | Mohammad Mir-Mohammadi | 16 February 1994 | 23 August 1997 | Nonpartisan |
| Economic Vice President | Mohsen Nourbakhsh | August 1993 | 14 September 1994 | ECP |