IRNA – Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani, in a message on Monday, condoled with the Iranian nation, particularly Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani, on the demise of late Chairman of Iran's Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Expressing deep sorrow over the news of Ayatollah Rafsanjani's death, Ghani said that Iran's Expediency Council chief and the former Iranian president was an influential figure in the region who enjoyed great popularity among the Iranian people.

Ayatollah Rafsanjani, 82, died of a cardiac arrest last night.

Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah was one of the first foreign political figures who condoled with the Iranian nation on the death of Ayatollah Rafsanjani.