Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani was taken to Shohada-ye Tajrish Hospital in northern Tehran after a reported heart attack on Sunday evening. However, he passed away in spite of doctors’ efforts.
Rafsanjani was one of the pillars of Islamic Revolution’s victory in 1979, and the establishment of the Islamic Republic.
He served as the country’s deputy commander during the eight-year imposed war against Iraq in the 1980s, and later served two four-year terms as the president of Iran.
Until the end of his life, he remained an influential figure in Iran, and headed the Expediency Council, a body which is intended to resolve disputes between the parliament and the Guardian Council.