rafsanjani was president of iran from 1989 to 1997, losing on the second ballot to mahmoud ahmadinejad in the 2005 election on his attempt for a third term in office. after this, he has tried to use his position in the expediency council to denounce president ahmadinejad's administration. he said he would do some privatizations and change foreign policy. however, president ahmadinejad has noted rafsanjani's failure to make a difference between privatization and self takeover of government-owned companies. ahmadinejad has also commmented on the foreign policies of rafsanjani's administration which lead to sanctions against iran in 1995 and 1996.