IRNA � Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in separate messages on Tuesday extended condolences on the demise of Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.


Abe in his message expressed sympathy on the sad occasion and hailed the achievements of the late chairman of the Expediency Council.

Rafsanjani died at the age of 82 due to a cardiac arrest in Tajrish Martyrs Hospital on January 8.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei led prayers for body of the late Ayatollah.
He was laid to rest on Tuesday in the late Imam Khomeini's mausoleum in a ceremony attended by ocean of people.