Rafsanjani Quits Iranian Parliament

May, 25, 2000 A.D.:
Rafsanjani Quits Iranian Parliament

By: Mir M.Hosseini

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former president of Iran, resigned from the new parliament giving up his seat because of what he described as a campaign of propaganda against him by reformists. Rafsanjani had become a figurehead for conservatives in their power struggle with the reformists who dominated the parliament after elections.
Rafsanjani still remained influential and exercised considerable power as the head of the Guardian Council and other similar bodies that were created to ensure iron grip on Iranian political system. Ironically, he ran for the president in 2005 with slogans of moderation and reform against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.