Mohammad-Ali Rajai
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (September 2010) |
Mohammad-Ali Rajai | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 2nd President of Iran | |
| In office 2 August 1981 – 30 August 1981 | |
| Prime Minister | Mohammad-Javad Bahonar |
| Preceded by | Abolhassan Banisadr |
| Succeeded by | Ali Khamenei |
| 76th Prime Minister of Iran 2nd Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic | |
| In office 12 August 1980 – 4 August 1981 | |
| President | Abolhassan Banisadr |
| Preceded by | Mehdi Bazargan |
| Succeeded by | Mohammad Javad Bahonar |
| 7th Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 11 March 1981 – 15 August 1981 | |
| President | Abolhassan Banisadr |
| Prime Minister | Himself |
| Preceded by | Karim Khodapanahi |
| Succeeded by | Mir-Hossein Mousavi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 June 1933 Ghazvin, Iran |
| Died | 30 August 1981 (aged 48) Tehran, Iran |
| Political party | Islamic Republic Party |
| Spouse | Ateghe Sediqi (1958-1981) |
Mohammad Ali Rajai (محمد علی رجائی in Persian) (15 June 1933 – 30 August 1981) was the second elected 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 August 30, 1981, along with prime minister Mohammad Javad Bahonar.
Early life and career
Mohammad-Ali Rajai was born on 15 June 1933 in Qazvin, Iran. His father, Abdulsamad, died when Mohammad-Ali was only 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 to be educated, but after a year, he moved to Tehran and graduated with a degree in Education from Tarbiat Moallem University in 1959.[1] He was arrested by the Shah's government 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.
Ministerial posts
After the Iranian Revolution, he became Minister of Education in the Government of Mehdi Bazargan, and although Bazargan's Cabinet resigned in 6 November 1979, Rajadid did not resign and remained a minister until 12 August 1980, when he became prime minister. When Bani Sadr became the president of Iran in the first presidential election, he had to nominate a new prime minister, and 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 was start and His Government's first policy became the "victory and defense". His government organised Revolution's first years. He was in office until August 2, 1981, when he became second president of Iran.
Presidency
Banisadr was impeached in 22 June 1981 by parliament, and Khomeini held a Provisional Presidential Council by 6 people hed by Mohammad Beheshti and latter Abdul-Karim Mousavi Ardebili. Rajai was one of them. He nominated himself for the presidential election in 1981. He became the second president and first president from Islamic Republican Party after winning 91% of the vote. He officially became president after Oath of Office in 2 August 1981. [1] He was named Mohammad-Javad Bahonar to the Parliament to becoming next prime minister. Parliament voted in to Bahonar and he formed a new government.
Assassination
On August 30, 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, then left. Another person opened the case, triggering a bomb that set the room ablaze and killed Rajai, Bahonar, and three others.[2] The assassin was identified as Massoud Kashmiri, 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. His funeral was attended by one milion people. He was buried in Behesht-e Zahra.
References
- ^ "Rajai Sworn In; Bani-Sadr Predicts Revolt", Pittsburgh Press, August 2, 1981, pA-8
- ^ Facts on File Yearbook 1981