Former Iranian President Rafsanjani Dies at 82

He was leading voice among moderate politicians – “The timing of this is very bad”.

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president and pillar of Iran’s Islamic revolution who became a leading critic of the hardline clerical establishment in the later years of his life, has died. He was 82.

His death is a blow to Iran’s moderate camp, which includes President Hassan Rouhani, leaving it without a formidable source of political support at a time when the country is at a crossroads in its relations with the world.

Mr. Rafsanjani died Sunday after being admitted to a hospital in Tehran for a heart ailment, according to state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. An hour after he was admitted to the hospital, he went into cardiac arrest and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, IRNA said, citing the head of the hospital where he was treated.

At the time of his death, he was chairman of Iran’s Expediency Council, which advises Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and resolves disputes between the parliament and the Guardian Council—a powerful body that oversees elections and constitutional matters.

Mr. Rafsanjani was a staunch supporter of Iran’s nuclear deal with six world powers, which went into effect early last year, serving as a counterweight to hardline opponents of the accord among the country’s clerical leadership.

The deal, which lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its disputed nuclear program, could be threatened by divisions within Iran’s leadership. It is also facing the risk that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump could pull support for it after he expressed opposition during the election campaign.

U.S. and European officials reacted with concern on Sunday to the announcement of Mr. Rafsanjani’s death. Washington and Brussels are both focused on Iran’s presidential election later this year and hope President Rouhani can win reelection.

Mr. Rafsanjani, said U.S. and European officials, would have played a critical role in helping to mobilize support for Mr. Rouhani, who spearheaded Tehran’s push to finalize the nuclear agreement in 2015 and has championed better relations with the West. The former president’s death could aid hardline factions in Tehran that want to unseat Mr. Rouhani, they said.

“The timing of this is very bad,” said a senior European official who works on Iran. “Rafsanjani always played the role of the kingmaker in their system.”

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