Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's Memoirs - January 6, 1999

Summary of Events:

* Snowfall: The text mentions the snowfall on January 6, 1999, and compares it to the recent snowfall in Tehran in 2021. Rafsanjani also comments on the BBC Persian news's biased reporting.

* Meeting with Ali Akbar Velayati: Velayati, a senior advisor to the Supreme Leader, informs Rafsanjani about the formation of a council by groups aligned with the Combatant Clergy Association to coordinate election strategies. He also requests Rafsanjani to advise Kargozaran party not to form an alliance with leftist groups and to include a few individuals from the clerical faction in their candidate list.

* Meeting with Mohammad Reza Alizadeh: The head of the Registration of Deeds and Properties Organization provides Rafsanjani with details of the previous head's shortcomings and his own reforms.

* Meeting with Mansour Moazami: The Iranian ambassador to Brazil, who previously worked in the oil and petrochemical industries, reports on the progress and challenges of the petrochemical industry.

* Meeting with Gholam Hossein Raheb Pour: The head of the Revolutionary Courts in Tehran shares concerns about the lack of attention given to these courts.

* Meeting with Abdolvahed Mousavi Lari and Mostafa Tajzadeh: The Interior Minister and his deputy express concerns about the extensive disqualifications of candidates by the Guardian Council during the upcoming elections. They also provide an update on the progress of the election preparations.

Detailed Translation and Context:

"Yesterday and today, we had some rain, and the polluted air cleared. From my room, after weeks, the city lights can be seen clearly and brightly. As usual, I went to sleep at 10:30 PM and woke up at 3:30 AM for pre-dawn prayers (Sahar). I turned on the samovar and rice cooker to warm the rice. Until 5 AM, I spent time in pre-dawn prayers and reciting the Quran. I woke up Kazem [Marashi, his wife's brother who lives with them]. He prepared the table in the kitchen. We had breakfast together, and after brushing our teeth, renewing our ablutions, and praying, I went back to sleep at 6 AM. I listened to the BBC Persian radio news summary; they act maliciously and in favor of anti-Islamic currents in Iran.

At 8:30 AM, I arrived at my office. I reviewed the newspapers and reports on the computer; this is almost the routine for most days. At 9:30 AM, Dr. [Ali Akbar] Velayati [Supreme Leader's advisor on international affairs] came. He said that groups aligned with the [Combatant] Clergy Association have formed a Supreme Council to coordinate election programs and brought a message asking me to advise the [Kargozaran] party not to form an alliance with the leftists and to include a few individuals from the clerical faction on their list. He also requested my presence at the graduation ceremony of Shahid Beheshti University. I said that I would be in Qom those days and that it might also create problems in terms of electoral law; it was decided to be reviewed.

Mr. [Mohammad Reza] Alizadeh, the head of the [Registration of Deeds and Properties] Organization came. As is the custom with new managers, he presented examples of the weaknesses of the previous head - Mr. [Seyed Reza] Zowarei - and his own reforms; he also had useful explanations.

[Mr. Mansour Moazami], our new ambassador to Brazil came. He is a manager from the petrochemical industries. He first gave a report on the progress of this industry during the Reconstruction era and expressed regret that no new work has been done after [the Reconstruction government], but fortunately, Mr. [Mohammad Reza] Nematzadeh [CEO of the National Petrochemical Industries Company] has some new plans under agreement that could yield results in the coming years. He then spoke about the Brazilian reconstruction

experience, which has resulted in a debt of $160 billion.

In the afternoon, Mr. [Gholam Hossein] Raheb Pour, [head of the Revolutionary Courts of Tehran province] came. He spoke about the problems of the Revolutionary Court and the lack of attention paid to it.

[Mr. Abdolvahed Mousavi Lari], the Interior Minister, and his deputy, Mr. [Mostafa] Tajzadeh [head of the Election Headquarters], came. They gave a report on the progress of the election work and expressed concern about the possibility of widespread disqualifications by the Guardian Council. The left wing has launched a major effort to control the Guardian Council.