Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
Speaker of the Iranian Parliament / War Commander
"We are not defeated. We are tired."
Biography
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was the most powerful man in Iran after Khomeini — a cleric of enormous cunning who served simultaneously as Speaker of Parliament and effective military commander-in-chief during the war's final phase. Khomeini trusted him as one of the few people who could tell him unpleasant truths. In 1988, it was Rafsanjani who persuaded Khomeini to accept the UN ceasefire — presenting the Supreme Leader with battlefield realities that had been hidden from him for months. Rafsanjani secretly negotiated the Iran-Contra arms deals with the United States, obtaining spare parts for Iran's US-built military in exchange for help freeing American hostages in Lebanon. He was also deeply implicated in the creation of Hezbollah and the 1983 Marine barracks bombing. After the war, he served as President from 1989 to 1997, attempting to rebuild Iran's economy while preserving the theocracy. He died in 2017 swimming in his private pool at age 82.
Did you know?
Rafsanjani was known in Iran as 'the Shark' for his political cunning and as 'Akbar Shah' for his regal self-confidence. He made his family wealthy through pistachio farming and later through construction contracts, earning a reputation as the Islamic Republic's most pragmatic — and most corrupt — politician. He secretly negotiated the arms-for-hostages deals in 1985–86 that became the Iran-Contra scandal.
Key Battles
Battle of Faw Peninsula
Iran victoryFebruary 9–26, 1986 · 30,000 total casualties
The capture of Faw represented Iran's high-water mark in the war. Iran now controlled Iraqi territory and had a potential path to Basra. The threat caused Iraq to dramatically escalate its use of chemical weapons and the US to increase its support for Iraq. Faw was also the operation that proved Human Wave tactics could be replaced by more sophisticated combined-arms approaches.
War of the Cities
1985–1988 · 15,000 total casualties
The War of the Cities was the first large-scale use of ballistic missiles against civilian urban areas since World War II — and a preview of what became a persistent feature of Middle Eastern warfare. The attacks failed to create decisive results but caused enormous suffering. The 'Tanker War' component — attacks on oil tankers — drew US Navy intervention that ultimately tilted the outcome of the war against Iran.
Operation Tawakalna ala Allah
Iraq victoryApril – August 1988 · 40,000 total casualties
Iraq's final offensives ended the war but at the price of massive chemical weapons use. The use of nerve agents at Halabja against Kurdish civilians (5,000 dead) and against Iranian troops constituted war crimes. International condemnation was muted — the US had been tilting toward Iraq for years. Khomeini, faced with defeat, accepted the UN ceasefire in what he called 'more deadly than drinking poison.'
Life Journey
Timeline
August 25, 1934
🌅 Birth
Born in Bahreman village, Kerman Province
1950s
📚 Education
Studied at Qom seminary; became close ally of Khomeini
1980–1988
milestone
Speaker of Parliament; de facto military commander during late war
July 1988
milestone
Persuaded Khomeini to accept the ceasefire — 'drinking poison'
1989–1997
milestone
Served as President of Iran; attempted economic reconstruction
January 8, 2017
✝️ Death
Died in Tehran, age 82