Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - February 2, 2000 - Electoral Meeting with Mohammad Hashemi, Vice President in the Reformist Government

Meeting with Persepolis Club Staff Ahead of Departure to the Asian Champions Cup

Electoral and Advisory Meeting with Sheikh Abdulmajid Ma'adikhah and Sadegh Zibakalam

Report by Ali Larijani on the Reformists' Electoral Plans

Members of the Persepolis Club came to visit. They are heading to Saudi Arabia for the Asian Champions Cup. Mr. [Hossein] Mahlooji gave a detailed report, and I also spoke at length about the importance of sports, competition, ethics, and discipline. They took photos and requested assistance in obtaining visas for their companions and permission for travel to Mecca and Medina after Riyadh. I gifted them a copy of my memoirs.

Mr. [Abdulmajid] Ma'adikhah, [Head of the Foundation for the History of the Islamic Revolution], came along with Mr. Sadegh Zibakalam, [Professor of Political Science at the University of Tehran]. Mr. Zibakalam explained the intellectuals' demands, summarizing their opposition to the concept of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) and religious governance, emphasizing more attention to the West and the U.S. I explained the importance and necessity of religious governance. The Guardian Council has rejected his candidacy.

Mr. [Ali] Larijani, [Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting], came and spoke about the leftists' slander campaigns and the problems they are facing due to my participation in the [Sixth] parliamentary elections. My brother Mohammad, [Executive Vice President], also came to discuss election matters. In the evening, I dealt with ongoing work until nightfall.

Later, on my way home, I participated in a gathering of dairy farmers and their families held at the International Conference Center. Yasser and Mr. [Gholamreza] Forouzan insisted on my presence. The reception was warm. Mr. Kabir gave a report on the effects of development policies in the production of protein, saying that during this period, we moved from importing $1 billion worth of protein to exporting it. I also gave a brief speech, expressing my appreciation for the efforts of the producers during the construction period.

Mr. [Hassan] Rouhani and Mr. [Hossein] Hashmiyan also gave speeches. They gifted me a beautiful carpet with my signature woven into it.

Today, at Tehran Airport, two planes—an Airbus and a military C-130—collided. Both were destroyed by fire, and 11 people were killed.