January 10, The Iran Project - Head of Iran's Islamic Azad University� has offered his condolences over the demise of Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, saying in terms of historical comparison, Rafsanjani deserves comparison with Amir Kabir.

Speaking to a reporter on Tuesday, Hamid Mirzadeh, the head of Islamic Azad University said Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was a national hero and prominent figure in the contemporary history that can be called second Amir Kabir.

Like Amir Kabir who helped Iran develop by the establishment of Darolfonoon, Ayatollah Rafsanjani greatly affected the country�s scientific progress by the foundation of the Islamic Azad University, Mirzadeh noted.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he admired Ayatollah Rafsanjani, saying he always followed and supported the orders of Iran�s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Chairman of Iran�s Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani passed�away at�a hospital in northern Tehran on Sunday at the age of 82 due to a heart attack.

He was among the main aides to the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini.

He played an influential role both during the anti-Shah struggles before the victory of the Islamic Revolution and afterwards through various stages of the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Rafsanjani was also a key figure during the eight years of Iraq�s imposed war on Iran (1980-88), serving as substitute to commander-in-chief of the armed forces.