IRNA � German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier condoled the demise of Ayatollah Hasehmi Rafsanjani.

In a message to his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, Steinmeier expressed condolences to the people and government of Iran over the sad occasion.

Ayatollah Rafsanjani died at the age of 82 due to a heart attack in a hospital in Tehran on January 8.

The veteran politicain and cleric was president of Iran for two terms between 1989 and 1997. He was also the chief of the Expediency Council until his departure.