Iran's Leader Honors Hashemi Rafsanjani Despite 'Differences of Opinion and Interpretations'

The Leader of the Islamic Republic, in a message on the occasion of the passing of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, referred to him as his 'comrade and companion' and added that 'differences of opinion and interpretations' never severed the 'bond of friendship' between him and Mr. Rafsanjani. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described Mr. Rafsanjani as a 'longtime friend, comrade, and companion during the struggles of the Islamic movement, and a close collaborator for many years in the era of the Islamic Republic.' In this message, the former Speaker of the Assembly of Experts and the Islamic Consultative Assembly was referred to as 'His Excellency, the Cleric and Muslim.' He added that 'the loss of a comrade and companion whose history of collaboration and the beginning of camaraderie with him spans 59 years is hard and painful. What difficulties and hardships we have faced over these decades and what mutual thoughts and camaraderie have brought us together in a common path of effort, endurance, and risk-taking.' The Leader of the Islamic Republic wrote that Mr. Rafsanjani's 'extraordinary intelligence and unparalleled sincerity' had been a 'reliable support' for the colleagues of this high-ranking official of the Islamic Republic, 'especially' for him. He added: 'Differences of opinion and interpretations at various times during this long period never managed to completely sever the bond of friendship that began between us in the holy city of Karbala, and the whispers of slanderers who have sought to exploit these theoretical differences in recent years could not disrupt his deep personal affection for this humble servant.' Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, also wrote on Twitter that 'the great spirit of the revolutionary man and politician has ascended to the heavens, a symbol of patience and perseverance.' The Guardian Council, the Assembly of Experts, and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also issued messages of condolence for Mr. Rafsanjani's passing. Mr. Rafsanjani's body has been transferred to the Jamaran Hosseiniyeh, where, in addition to his family, several current and former officials of the Islamic Republic, including Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, the Leader's office chief, former President Mohammad Khatami, several government ministers, presidential aides, and political figures have gathered. In a message regarding Mr. Rafsanjani's death, former President Mohammad Khatami referred to him as a 'problem-solver in crises and difficulties' and a 'hero' who, according to him, 'thought and acted only for the elevation of the revolution and Iran and for the removal of dangers from the system and the people.' The daughters of Mir Hossein Mousavi also described Mr. Rafsanjani's passing as 'hard and shocking.' Koukb, Zahra, and Narges Mousavi emphasized that Mr. Rafsanjani 'departed this world with a wounded heart from the relentless onslaught of accusations, insults, and much injustice he endured due to his empathy with the people.' Mr. Rafsanjani's sermons during Friday prayers, where Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, leaders of the 2009 presidential election protesters, were present, marked his last appearance as a Friday prayer leader in Tehran. Mr. Rafsanjani also, in June 2009, just days before the presidential election, wrote an open letter to the Leader of the Islamic Republic, protesting the accusations made against him and his family by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, asking Ayatollah Khamenei to guarantee the integrity of the elections. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the head of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran and a founding figure of the Islamic Republic, passed away on Sunday, January 19, due to a heart condition. Gholamreza Mohseni, the head of Shahid Tajrish Hospital, announced that the cause of Mr. Rafsanjani's death was 'cardiac arrest.' The Iranian government also announced in a statement that Tuesday would be a holiday and the next three days would be 'public mourning.'