[2] Born in 1958 in Kazerun, Fars Province, Refan obtained his BS in electrical engineering from University of Tehran.
[2] Refan was one of the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line taking over the U.S. embassy in 1979, who entered Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and reached at top of its command hierarchy.
He resigned in 1990, reportedly due to what he deemed lack of sufficient support from IRGC leadership, according to Jamal S.
[7] Following departure from the IRGC, Refan entered MAPNA Group.
[9][10] According to the Israeli institute Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, Refan is regarded a conservative figure within Iranian political spectrum.