Mohammad Khatami | |
---|---|
5th President of Iran | |
In office 3 August 1997 – 3 August 2005 |
|
Supreme Leader | Ali Khamenei |
First Vice President |
Hassan Habibi Mohammad Reza Aref |
Preceded by | Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani |
Succeeded by | Mahmoud Ahmadinejad |
Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance | |
In office 12 September 1982 – 24 May 1992 |
|
President |
Ali Khamenei Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani |
Prime Minister | Mir-Hossein Mousavi |
Preceded by | Majid Moadikhah |
Succeeded by | Ali Larijani |
Member of the Parliament of Iran | |
In office 28 May 1980 – 24 August 1982 |
|
Constituency | Yazd, Ardakan district |
Majority | 40,112 (82.1%) |
Personal details | |
Born |
Seyyed Mohammad Khatami 29 September 1943 Ardakan, Yazd Province, Iran |
Nationality | Iranian |
Political party | Association of Combatant Clerics |
Spouse(s) | Zohreh Sadeghi (m. 1974) |
Relations |
Mohammad-Reza Khatami (brother) Ali Khatami (brother) Zahra Eshraghi (sister-in-law) Mohammad Reza Tabesh (nephew) |
Children | Leila (b. 1975) Narges (b. 1980) Emad (b. 1988) |
Parents |
Ruhollah Khatami (father) Sakineh Ziaee (mother) |
Alma mater |
University of Isfahan University of Tehran |
Occupation | Politician |
Profession |
Journalist Author Scholar |
Religion | Shia Islam |
Signature | |
Website | Official website |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Iran |
Service/branch | Iranian Imperial Army |
Years of service | 1969–1971 |
Rank | Second lieutenant; Financial specialist |
Unit | Tehran region 3 sustainment |
Seyyed Mohammad Khatami (Persian: سید محمد خاتمی, pronounced [ sejˈjed mohæmˈmæde xɒːtæˈmiː]; born 29 September 1943) is an Iranian scholar, Shia theologian, and reformist politician. He served as the fifth President of Iran from 3 August 1997 to 3 August 2005. He also served as Iran's Minister of Culture from 1982 to 1992. He was an outspoken critic of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government.
Little known until that point, Khatami attracted global attention during his first election to the presidency when he captured almost 70% of the vote. Khatami had run on a platform of liberalization and reform. During his two terms as president, Khatami advocated freedom of expression, tolerance and civil society, constructive diplomatic relations with other states including those in Asia and the European Union, and an economic policy that supported a free market and foreign investment.
Khatami is known for his proposal of Dialogue Among Civilizations. The United Nations proclaimed the year 2001 as the United Nations' Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations, on Khatami's suggestion.
On 8 February 2009, Khatami announced that he would run in the 2009 presidential election. On 16 March, he announced he was withdrawing from the race in favor of his long-time friend and adviser, former Prime Minister of Iran, Mir-Hossein Mousavi.