Mohammad Hashemi Rafsanjani ( Persian : محمد هاشمی رفسنجانی ; born 29 August 1942 ) is an Iranian politician who was a member of the Expediency Discernment Council from 1997 to 2012. He served as vice president in charge of executive affairs during the presidency of his older brother, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani , and later under the first cabinet of President Mohammad Khatami . He was also the head of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting for 12 and half years, and was replaced by Ali Larijani in the post. Mohammad Hashemi is an alumnus of UC Berkeley . After the death of his brother in 2017, Mohammad Hashemi Rafsanjani, he launched a presidential campaign, but it was not approved by the Guardian Council .