Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei
Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei (Persian: اسفندیار رحیممشایی; born 16 November 1960) is an Iranian conservative politician and former intelligence officer. As a senior Cabinet member in the administration of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he served as Chief of Staff from 2009 to 2013, and served as the fourth first vice president of Iran for one week in 2009 until his resignation was ordered by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei | |
|---|---|
اسفندیار رحیممشایی | |
Mashaei in 2013 | |
| 4th First Vice President of Iran | |
| In office 17 July 2009 – 25 July 2009 | |
| President | Mahmoud Ahmadinejad |
| Preceded by | Parviz Davoodi |
| Succeeded by | Mohammad-Reza Rahimi |
| Head of President's Office | |
| In office 25 July 2009 – 7 December 2012 | |
| President | Mahmoud Ahmadinejad |
| Preceded by | Abdolreza Sheykholeslami |
| Succeeded by | Mir-Hassan Mousavi |
| Supervisor of Presidential Administration of Iran | |
| In office 19 September 2009 – 9 April 2011 | |
| President | Mahmoud Ahmadinejad |
| Preceded by | Ali Saeedlou |
| Succeeded by | Hamid Baghaei |
| Vice President of Iran Head of Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization | |
| In office 18 August 2005 – 17 July 2009 | |
| President | Mahmoud Ahmadinejad |
| Preceded by | Hossein Marashi |
| Succeeded by | Hamid Baghaei |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 November 1960 Ramsar, Iran |
| Political party | Sweet Scent of Service (2006–2009) |
| Spouse | Shahrbanu Zabihan Langarudi |
| Alma mater | Isfahan University of Technology |
| Awards | Order of Culture and Art (1st Class) |
| Signature | |
| Nickname | Morteza Mohebololia |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Iran |
| Branch/service | Revolutionary Guards |
| Years of service | 1981–1984 |
| Unit | Intelligence |
| Battles/wars | Kurdish rebellion |
A close ally of President Ahmadinejad, Mashaei was viewed by many Iranian clerics as an anti-establishment activist and secular-oriented nationalist. He has been criticized by religious conservatives for alleged "deviant tendencies," such as elevating Iranian heritage and nationalism above Islam as well as for statements he has made criticizing the Assembly of Experts and the theocratic doctrine of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists, and advocating for the clergy to remove themselves from the political establishment. He has also been called a pragmatic, moderate conservative with "liberal views on cultural and social issues."
On 11 May 2013, with the public support and endorsement of outgoing President Ahmadinejad, Mashaei announced that he would run for the presidency in the upcoming election. However, his application to run was disqualified by the Guardian Council, which must approve all potential candidates, as well as the final election results. Ahmadinejad protested the disqualification and referred to the Guardian Council's decision as an act of "oppression."