Mohammad-Ali Rajai
Mohammad-Ali Rajai | |
---|---|
2nd President of Iran | |
In office 2 August 1981 – 30 August 1981 |
|
Supreme Leader | Ruhollah Khomeini |
Prime Minister | Mohammad-Javad Bahonar |
Preceded by | Abolhassan Banisadr |
Succeeded by | Ali Khamenei |
Prime Minister of Iran | |
In office 12 August 1980 – 4 August 1981 |
|
President | Abolhassan Banisadr |
Preceded by | Mehdi Bazargan |
Succeeded by | Mohammad Javad Bahonar |
Minister of Foreign Affairs Acting |
|
In office 11 March 1981 – 15 August 1981 |
|
President | Abolhassan Banisadr |
Prime Minister | Himself |
Preceded by | Karim Khodapanahi (Acting) |
Succeeded by | Mir-Hossein Mousavi |
Personal details | |
Born | Qazvin, Persia |
15 June 1933
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Tehran, Iran |
Political party | Islamic Republic Party |
Other political affiliations |
Freedom Movement (1960–1979) People's Mujahedin |
Spouse(s) | Ateghe Sediqi (1958–1981) |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | Tarbiat Moallem University |
Religion | Shia Islam |
Mohammad-Ali Rajai (Persian: محمدعلی رجائی; 15 June 1933 – 30 August 1981) was the president of Iran from 2 to 30 August 1981 after serving as prime minister under Abolhassan Banisadr. He was also minister of foreign affairs from 11 March 1981 to 15 August 1981, while he was prime minister. He was assassinated in a bombing on 30 August 1981 along with prime minister Mohammad-Javad Bahonar.
Early life and education
Mohammad-Ali Rajai was born on 15 June 1933 in Qazvin, Iran.[1] His father, Abdulsamad, died when he was 4 years old after which he lived with his mother and brother. Rajai grew up in Qazvin, and moved to Tehran in 1946. After moving to Tehran, he had a close relationship with the anti-Shah groups and parties. He known with Ayatollah Mahmoud Taleghani. In 1958, He moved to Bijar for a short period, but after a year, he moved back to Tehran and graduated with a degree in education from Tarbiat Moallem University in 1959. He became a member of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MKO).[2] In 1960, he also joined Freedom Movement of Iran.[1][3] He was arrested by the Shah's forces for three times for his opposition activities.[3] He was lastly detained in May 1974, but was set free after four years.
He was actively involved in the Iranian Revolution and was a leader in the movement to purge Iranian universities of American and European influences, which was later called the Cultural Revolution.
Career
In 1979, Rajai left the Freedom Movement.[1] Following the Iranian Revolution, he was appointed minister of education in the government of Mehdi Bazargan, and although Bazargan's cabinet resigned on 6 November 1979, he did not resign and remained in the post until 12 August 1980 when he became prime minister. Following the presidency of Bani Sadr, after 5 months, he nominated Rajai for the position, and parliament voted him in. He appointed Khodapanahi as foreign minister, Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi Kani as interior minister and Javad Fakori as defence minister. During his prime ministership, Iran–Iraq War started and his government's first policy became the "victory and defense". He was in office until 2 August 1981 when he became the second president of Iran.
Banisadr was impeached on 22 June 1981 by parliament, and Khomeini held a Provisional Presidential Council by 6 people headed by Mohammad Beheshti and later Abdul-Karim Mousavi Ardebili. Rajai was one of the members of that Council. He nominated himself for the presidential election in 1981. He was the first president from the Islamic Republican Party after winning 91% of the votes. He officially became the president after Oath of Office in 2 August 1981.[4] He named Mohammad-Javad Bahonar to the Parliament to become the next prime minister. Parliament voted in to Bahonar and he formed a new government.
Assassination
On 30 August 1981, President Rajai held a meeting of Iran's Supreme Defense Council, along with the Prime Minister Mohammad Javad Bahonar. Witnesses later stated that a trusted aide brought a briefcase into the conference room, set it between the two leaders, and then left. Another person opened the case, triggering a bomb that set the room ablaze and killed Rajai, Bahonar, and three others.[5] The assassin was identified as Massoud Keshmiri, an operative of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (also known as the MKO, MEK and PMOI), who had infiltrated the Prime Minister's office in the guise of a state security official. Rajai was buried in Behesht-e Zahra.
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Rajai Khomeinis.jpg
Rajai, Ruhollah, and Ahmad Khomeini
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Rajai & Bahonar.jpg
Rajai and Prime Minister Mohammad-Javad Bahonar
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President Rajaei Inauguration at Majlis.jpg
Rajai's inauguration in the Parliament of Iran
References
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- ↑ "Rajai Sworn In; Bani-Sadr Predicts Revolt", Pittsburgh Press, 2 August 1981, p. A-8
- ↑ Facts on File Yearbook 1981
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by | Prime Minister of Iran 1980–1981 |
Succeeded by Mohammad Javad Bahonar |
Preceded by
Karim Khodapanahi (Acting)
|
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Acting) 1981 |
Succeeded by Mir-Hossein Mousavi |
Preceded by | President of Iran 1981 |
Succeeded by Ali Khamenei |
- Pages with broken file links
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- 1933 births
- 1981 deaths
- People from Qazvin
- Freedom Movement of Iran politicians
- People of the Iranian Revolution
- Foreign ministers of Iran
- Government ministers of Iran
- Iranian Majlis Representatives
- Presidents of Iran
- Prime Ministers of Iran
- Islamic Republican Party politicians
- Iranian presidential candidates, July 1981
- People murdered in Iran
- Assassinated Iranian politicians
- Assassinated heads of state
- Burials at Behesht-e Zahra
- Iranian revolutionaries
- Deaths by explosive device
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