Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - May 1, 2000 - Consultation with Sheikh Ahmad Jannati before Meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei Regarding the Announcement of the Guardian Council's Decision on Tehran Elections

Consultation with Sheikh Ahmad Jannati before meeting Ayatollah Khamenei to seek guidance on announcing the Guardian Council's decision regarding the Tehran elections.

Meeting with Seyed Mohammad Hosseini Qazvini and the son of Sheikh Abolqasem Khazali requesting assistance from Hashemi.

Meeting with Hassan Asgari, former head of Tehran's water department, seeking advice on accepting responsibility in the Asaluyeh Free Zone.

Meeting with Abdolhamid Bagheri Banabi, who criticized the reformist government and President Khatami, while praising Hashemi's sermon in support of Ayatollah Khamenei.

Meeting with Mansour Vaezi, head of Tehran's Cultural and Artistic Organization, for consultation on the management of this organization, which was separated from the Tehran municipality under Ayatollah Khamenei's directive and made semi-autonomous.

Meeting with Hassan Vaezi for political consultations.

Continued consultation between Hassan Rouhani and Hashemi on managing relations between the head and deputies of the Strategic Research Center and a report on Seyed Mohammad Khatami's electoral concerns.

Mr. [Mohammad] Hosseini Qazvini, [Director of the Hazrat Wali Asr Research Institute in Qom], and the son of Mr. [Abolqasem] Khazali came. They brought samples of their books on refining the sources of narrations and requested assistance. Mr. Khazali said that his father had listened to my Friday sermons and prayed for me for helping them.

Mr. [Hassan] Asgari, former director of Tehran’s water department, came. He has been a successful manager in the water sector and is currently working in the private sector. Mr. [Bijan Namdar] Zanganeh, [Minister of Petroleum], has asked him to manage the Asaluyeh Free Zone. Despite earning two million tomans a month in the private sector, he is willing to take the government salary to work in Asaluyeh. He praised my recent Friday sermon, saying it had uplifted the spirits of the faithful.

Mr. [Abdolhamid Bagheri] Banabi, the representative from Tabriz, came. He criticized the Ministry of Culture [and Islamic Guidance] and the management of Mr. [Seyed Mohammad] Khatami, [the President], for being influenced by corrupt associates. He expressed gratitude for my Friday sermons and said that many people had thanked him for the remarks.

In the afternoon, Mr. Mansour Vaezi, head of the Cultural [and Artistic] Organization of Tehran Municipality, came. He complained that the municipality had not fulfilled its legal obligations, particularly in allocating the legal funds for the newspaper Hamshahri, and that they were causing disruptions. Four years ago, under the Leader’s directive, this section was separated from the municipality, and the municipality is displeased. He proposed the annulment of Tehran's elections due to widespread violations. Mr. Hassan Vaezi from the Supreme National Security Council came. He has conducted research on threats and remedies. He also proposed annulling Tehran’s elections. He expressed appreciation for my Friday sermons and warned of the threat from counter-revolutionaries and the reformists.

Dr. [Hassan] Rouhani, [Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and Head of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Discernment Council], came. We made decisions regarding the management of the Research Center. He conveyed a message from Ebad [Ali Rabiei], saying that Mr. Khatami had learned through Mr. [Ali] Younesi, [Minister of Intelligence], that the Guardian Council intends to annul the Tehran elections, and the Judiciary plans to close several newspapers and arrest more individuals. Khatami is upset and wants to complain to the Leader.

In the evening, Mr. [Ahmad] Jannati, [Secretary of the Guardian Council], came. We discussed the Tehran elections, and he mentioned that he would be meeting with the Leader to hear his opinion. I returned home late. Effat had guests over.