Tasnim � Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif extended his deep condolences over the demise of Chairman of the country�s Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

In a message on Sunday, Zarif voiced condolences to Ayatollah Rafsanjani�s family members as well as Iranian people.

Zarif described Rafsanjani as �great scholar and scientist� and the �old friend of the leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and the late Founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini.�

Former Iranian President Rafsanjani died at age 82 on Sunday after suffering heart attack.

Rafsanjani has been transferred to a Tehran hospital on Sunday after heart failure.

Hossei Mar�ashi told the Tasnim News Agency that measures taken by medical staffs to revive him were futile.

Ayatollah Rafsanjani was the fourth president of Iran.