Hashemi Rafsanjani quotes

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was an influential Iranian politician, writer, and one of the founding figures of the Islamic Republic. A prominent statesman, he served as President of Iran and held key roles during and after the Iranian Revolution. He played a central part in shaping Iran’s domestic and foreign policies. Here are 37 of his quotes:

We want all the Palestinians back in their homeland, and then there can be a fair referendum for people to choose the form of state they want. Whoever gets the majority can rule.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

This democracy... The elections in Iraq were held despite the American opposition. It was the will of the Iraqi people and the religious authorities. [The elections] were the result of pressure by Ayatollah Sistani, by the Iraqi religious authorities, and by the fighting forces in Iraq on America. They left the US no choice but to allow the elections.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

We have no problems with Jews and highly respect Judaism as a holy religion.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

The possibility of a war under the current circumstances is not far-fetched and there is some evidence for that.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

We do not trust the goodwill of the U.S. They have cut the ties.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

Each department and institution has its own authorities and responsibilities, and they act on that basis. It is wrong to even compare such actions to what is done in Guantanamo or elsewhere by the Americans. They do not stand on a high moral platform to preach to others.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

There is no doubt that America is a superpower of the world and we cannot ignore them.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

The important matter is freedom. When the people choose what they want, it is good for them and for us.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

A large group of Iranians have doubts about last month's (June) disputed presidential election ... something should be done about the situation., on the 2009 presidential election.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

If one day, the Islamic world is also equipped with weapons like those that Israel possesses now, then the imperialists' strategy will reach a standstill because the use of even one nuclear bomb inside Israel will destroy everything. However, it will only harm the Islamic world. It is not irrational to contemplate such an eventuality. Of course, you can see that the Americans have kept their eyes peeled and they are carefully looking for even the slightest hint that technological advances are being made by an independent Islamic country. If an independent Islamic country is thinking about acquiring other kinds of weaponry, then they will do their utmost to prevent it from acquiring them. Well, that is something that almost the entire world is discussing right now.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

We don't have a major problem right now in our country, and life is normal. Things like unemployment, which the youth are suffering from, and the rate of inflation - these are chronic conditions and we have to solve them.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

The United States is a big country but unfortunately it seems it has the brain of a little bird not befitting the greatness of the country.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

If we have any problems, it's always with the government of the United States.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

I think that Americans should gradually begin to adopt positive behavior rather than doing evil. They should not expect an immediate reaction in return for their positive measures. It will take time.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

Condi Rice talks tough but she cannot be tough herself.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

We don't have any bad memories of the people of the United States.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

I think the elections have gone well, although there is so much insecurity in Iraq. So far during the counting of ballots, there has not been a significant complaint. We have to wait to see what the outcome of the counting is.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

When al-Qaeda was on the run from Afghanistan crossing through Iran, some were arrested and they are imprisoned. Some of them are charged with some actions in Iran.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

Europe resolved a great problem – the problem of the Zionist danger. The Zionists, who constituted a strong political party in Europe, caused much disorder there. Since they had a lot of property and controlled an empire of propaganda, they made the European governments helpless. What Hitler and the German Nazis did to the Jews of Europe at that time was partly due to these circumstances with the Jews. They wanted to expel the Zionists from Europe because they always were a pain in the neck for the governments there. This is how this calamity fell upon the Muslims, especially the Palestinians, and you all know this history, more or less. [...]The first goal was to save Europe from the evil of Zionism, and in this, they have been relatively successful.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

If the Americans attack Iran, the world will change. ...They will not dare to make such a mistake.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

What America does all over the world in the name of the war on terrorism, the way in which it plunders the resources of peoples in needy and backwards countries, its aggression in international organizations, which belong to all of the world's peoples, and the inflammatory propaganda it uses in order to undermine other countries – all of these certainly contradict the spirit of the teachings of Jesus. [...] Pope's functionaries [...]should say to the Americans: Through the crimes you commit you disgrace Jesus, because you use the names of Jesus and the church to win over many votes in the American public.

Hashemi Rafsanjani

I'm not satisfied with the progress of the work, but I am happy that the talks are going on. It might have a negative effect if the United States joins.

Hashemi Rafsanjani