Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - February 29, 2000 - The Guardian Council's More Serious Involvement in Recounting and Reviewing the Qualifications of Elected Representatives for the Sixth Parliament and a Meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei with Ahmad Jannati Prese

Reports and Consultations with Hassan Rouhani on the Press Situation

Meeting with Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament

Meeting with Ali Hashemi, Elected Representative from Rafsanjan, and His Concerns About the Guardian Council’s Intervention in Favor of Seyed Mohammad Hosseini, Current Representative of the Sixth Parliament

Joint Meeting with Ali Larijani and Ali Akbar Velayati to Continue Previous Consultations on the Status of the Elected Representatives for the Sixth Parliament and Some Complaints Regarding Certain Individuals

Meeting with Two Important Deputy Ministers of the Intelligence Ministry, Reporting on the Threat of Resignation by 70 Senior Managers, and Intelligence Minister Younesi’s Proposals Regarding Ayatollah Montazeri

The Guardian Council's More Serious Involvement in Recounting and Reviewing the Qualifications of the Sixth Parliament’s Elected Representatives and a Meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei with Ahmad Jannati Present

Electoral Reports from Mohammad Hashemi to Akbar Hashemi

Threat of Resignation by 70 Senior Managers of the Intelligence Ministry / Jannati Stated in the Presence of the Leader: Some Elected Representatives Lack the Required Qualifications, and Their Elections May Be Nullified

Dr. [Hassan] Rouhani, [Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council], came by. He provided some warnings regarding how to handle the violations by the press. Mr. Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, came by. Most of the discussion centered around Israel's potential withdrawal from southern Lebanon. He believes the withdrawal will happen, with the aim of separating Syria from Lebanon and isolating Syria while reducing the pressure on Israel regarding Lebanon.

Ali Akhavi Zadeh, [Deputy Minister of Oil], came by. He was elected from Rafsanjan and reported on the election situation and conditions in Rafsanjan. He is worried that the Guardian Council might rule in favor of Mr. [Seyed Mohammad] Hosseini, [current representative from Rafsanjan], in the election, and he provided explanations about the state of the Executives of Construction Party and the situation with Mr. Khatami and the left-wing faction.

In the afternoon, Mr. [Ali] Larijani and [Ali Akbar] Velayati came by. They presented examples of deviations among some of the elected members from the Second of Khordad Movement and said the Guardian Council might take action against them.

Mr. [Amir] Tehrani and Mr. Bagheri from the Ministry of Intelligence came by. They mentioned that 70 senior managers had issued a warning that if no action is taken to restore the ministry’s dignity, they would resign. Mr. Bagheri mentioned that [Ali Younesi], the Minister of Intelligence, has proposed drafting a plan to adjust the situation of Ayatollah Montazeri. He also suggested that the system should take the initiative in opening up the cultural and social atmosphere, rather than reacting passively. They added that during the recent meeting of the Supreme Security Council, there were numerous complaints directed at the Minister of the Interior regarding the spread of lawlessness, and there were concerns that women and anti-revolutionary youth might cause disturbances during this year’s Chaharshanbe Suri celebrations.

The Guardian Council has announced that 1,000 ballot boxes in Tehran must be recounted due to complaints and the possibility of irregularities. My brother Mohammad, [Head of the Central Council of the Executives of Construction Party], came by. He reported on recent discussions within the party and mentioned the presence of some unacceptable ideas among certain members. He also sought advice on obtaining a newspaper license. I told him to wait until the situation becomes clearer. He also mentioned that Ham Mihan, Mr. Karbaschi’s newspaper, which was established with funding from the party, is not acting as the party’s official organ.

In the evening, I was a guest at the Leader’s residence. We discussed the deteriorating state of the press and possible solutions. Mr. [Ahmad] Jannati, [Secretary of the Guardian Council], was also present. He mentioned that it has now become clear that some of those elected lack the necessary qualifications and that their elections might be nullified. The Leader stated that he had declined an official invitation from Saudi Arabia; the invitation was not for the Hajj, and there was also a condition that he lead congregational prayers at the two holy mosques, which was another reason for his refusal.