The Vice-President of Science and Technology and the Head of National Elite Foundation issued a condolence message on the occasion of the death of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, the Chairman of Expediency Council, the giant of Islamic Revolution, and the longtime friend of Imam, Revolution, and the Supreme Leader.

The Center of Public Relations and Information of the Vice-Presidency of Science and Technology reports: The text of this message is as follows:

«We forgot that death is inexhaustible. It even does not ignore the indefatigable figures. We have forgot that our calculations is drastically different from those of the world. Eighty-two years is such a short while for those who intends to build up; as if it were some days or months. Yet, death does his own task. It shocks us. Only God knows its philosophy.

Also, while Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani had stepped in the ninth decade of his life, nobody expected and was prepared to hear the news of his death. His face was so full of passion for life and the will to work and build up that we were assured of his constant, supporting presence.

My last twosome meetings with Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani dates back to November 29^th 2015. This meeting was concerned with the future of Islamic Azad University and how to turn it into a fourth generation university, according to the principles of knowledge-based economy. He eagerly welcomed the supporting role of Azad University in this field and emphasized on entering the realm of knowledge-based economy, as one of the most fundamental programs of this university; he even welcomed the projects and ideas presented by the Vice-Presidency of Science and Technology.

I had also seen the same supporting idea and action from him towards my father, in my youth. It was 1990 or 1991 that I used to go to my father to attend the innovational, primary projects of Air Force, including «Ouj» project (building the first Azarakhsh aircraft). Ayatollah Hashemi, as the president, had come to Mehrabad Airport in order to visit and supervise the project, which had resulted in building the first «Azarakhsh» warplane. A flight maneuver and trial operation in low level with «Azarakhsh» were conducted in his presence. Last year, in the days of this projects’ works and research, the Revolution’s Supreme Leader, besides visiting the project, had wrote a letter to my father and expressed his contentment for his and his friends’ scientific advancements and commanded some things, which brought such results at that day. Also, for the first time, some Mig 29 aircrafts were purchased by the Army’s Air Force and imported into Iran; these aircrafts have been visited as well.

There, Ayatollah Hashemi had his sincere, supporting attitude towards Shahid Sattari, just like during the war years. I had also felt that supporting attitude towards my father in my meetings as the Vice-President of Science and Technology, especially in our last meeting, and made me follow the works with higher levels of motivation and energy.

I hope that his noble soul supervises our actions, as the earthly, transient creatures, rests in peace, and his unbeatable efforts and endeavors are the samples for all of us to do our jobs accurately.

I express my condolence for the loss of such a great man of Revolution, the longtime friend of Imam, Revolution, and the Supreme Leader, the sample of unbeatable efforts for reconstruction, the man of innovation and bold initiatives to all the followers of the Islamic Revolution, maraji, scholars, Iranians, the noble family of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, and the Supreme Leader. Cherished memories.”

Sorena Sattari, the Vice-President of Science and Technology and the Head of National Elite Foundation