RIP Akbar "The Shark" Rafsanjani, 82

[Lancecastor]

Iran's most influential moderate is dead.

This dude's family made a fortune in pistachios, a fortune he was allowed to keep and grow after the Revolution, whereas most Iranians with Money either left Iran or were killed.

This is the guy that got funding and support from the Supreme Leader for Iranian international film and the arts.

The go-to guy in negotiating Iran-Contra, the Russian/Paki sourced nuclear program and the behind the scenes guy in the Iran USA nuke/trade deal.

He was really good at having people quietly executed and getting tough deals done, but he was also shot twice and both his kids have been jailed as dissenters.

Cool guy.

 

[Pookie]

He'd have been a better "most interesting man in the world" dude than the new one.

 

[Lancecastor]

He was buddies with the first Ayatollah.

The sequel Ayatollah's haven't been nearly as good at Ayatollahing.

http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000bhI54Ab.pjE/s/650/BUR7902-05-Iran-A22-28.jpg

 

[Duncan113]

He was buddies with the first Ayatollah.

The sequel Ayatollah's haven't been nearly as good at Ayatollahing.

Waaa ha ha! Also...pistachios?

 

[Lancecastor]

Yup, big pistachio magnates.

My old friend in Iran's family is big in saffron.

 

[KingOrfeo]

Waaa ha ha! Also...pistachios?

They grow a lot of them in Iran.

 

[Lancecastor]

He was worth 1 Billion USD a few years ago.

 

[nerfhearder]

Lots of money in nuts. Both kinds.