Mohsen Nourbakhsh

Seyed Mohsen Nourbakhsh
Born	Template:Birth date Isfahan, Iran
Died	March 23, 2003(2003-03-23) (aged 54)
Occupation(s)	Economist, politician
Known for	Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, Finance Minister of Iran

Seyed Mohsen Nourbakhsh (; 18 May 1948 – 23 March 2003) was a prominent Iranian economist, recognized primarily for his role as governor of the Central Bank of Iran and his tenure as finance minister. Nourbakhsh was a strong proponent of market-oriented economic reforms.

Personal life and education

Originating from Isfahan, Nourbakhsh obtained his undergraduate degree in economics at the University of Tehran. He further advanced his studies in econometrics, earning both a master's and doctoral degree from the University of California at Davis.

Career

Following the Iranian Revolution, Nourbakhsh was nominated for the position of finance minister but was not approved by then-president Abolhassan Banisadr. Subsequently, he held the post of deputy finance minister until 1981. In 1988, he secured a seat in the Majlis representing Tehran. The following year, under president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, he was appointed as economy and finance minister, receiving strong endorsement from the Majlis. Nevertheless, he stepped down in 1993 due to pressure from parliament.

In 1994, Rafsanjani named Nourbakhsh as governor of the Central Bank of Iran, a position he maintained until his passing in 2003. He was reappointed to this role in 1999 during president Mohammad Khatami’s administration. Throughout Khatami’s initial term, Nourbakhsh engaged in a well-known policy dispute with economy minister Hossein Namazi concerning economic strategies.

Death

Nourbakhsh passed away on 23 March 2003 as a result of a heart attack. Having experienced previous heart complications and undergone cardiac surgery, his health had been fragile. President Mohammad Khatami honored him as a "very sincere, intelligent and capable serviceman," describing his death as an immense loss.

Following his death, deputy governor Mohammad Javad Vahaji assumed the role of acting governor, with Ebrahim Sheibani appointed later that year as governor.