Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - September 15, 2000 - Reactions to Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's Meeting in New York

Reactions to Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's meeting in New York.

Meeting with Amir Tehrani, Deputy for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs at the Ministry of Information, who, while criticizing his minister and chief Sheikh Mohsen Mehr Ali Younesi, reported on the summary from the Ministry of Information regarding the incidents in Khorramabad, blaming the Office for Consolidation of Unity and reformists.

The memoirs and notes of Akbar Hashemi are particularly significant not for their content but for revealing the behind-the-scenes dynamics and overlooked aspects of power, suggesting that many officials, particularly the core and advisors of President Khatami, were against him and engaged in repeated slander.

This includes the Deputy Minister of Information and other deputies, even the then deputy who acted against their own minister.

A report by Dr. Seyyed Taha Hashemi, a candidate for the presidency of the Islamic Culture and Communication Organization, indicated the obstacles he faced regarding his appointment, previously mentioned in Hashemi's notes about Ayatollah Khamenei's opposition.

A very important and noteworthy meeting with Behzad Nobakht and political consultations, particularly regarding two proposals in the Sixth Parliament for a general amnesty and the abolition of national screening, which ultimately did not succeed due to other political will and was perceived as a confrontation with Ayatollah Khamenei at that time.

Reactions to Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's visit in New York.

Request from Akbar Safarian to Hashemi for assistance in importing cars, coordinated with representatives from Kerman province and the then governor of Kerman, which was met with Hashemi's refusal to intervene and a subsequent reminder to Mohammad Hashemi, the then deputy executive of the president.

Protests in Hashemi's hometown, which later became a city in 2003.

The full entry of the day:

Mr. Amir Tehrani, Deputy for Parliamentary Affairs at the Ministry of Information, came by. He mentioned the influence of others on the minister and provided a report on the events in Khorramabad. He stated that the Ministry believes the main blame lies with the Office for Consolidation of Unity and the reformists. Mr. Taha Hashemi, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Entekhab," also visited and expressed that no decision had been made regarding the management of the Islamic Culture and Communication Organization, which was supposed to appoint him; it seems there are plans in Parliament to dissolve it. We discussed the upcoming presidential elections, and he wanted to know if I would run, to which I responded that I definitely would not. It was agreed that the newspaper "Entekhab" would deny the rumors.

In the evening, Mr. Behzad Nobakht came by and stated that I have always been a balancing force in the country's political currents, and it is expected that I continue this policy, ensuring that the right wing does not appear to have my support. He also mentioned that my recent Friday prayers and comments following the Berlin conference were directed against the left wing. I replied that I am not aligned with either wing, and my opinions may sometimes align with one of them; I oppose the extremists on both sides, and they oppose me as well. He noted that the proposals for general amnesty and the abolition of screening were directed by Mr. Ali Akbar Adab, who is from the right wing, possibly intending to create obstacles for the reformists; although they do not oppose it, they did not act on it themselves.

The German news agency reported that today Mr. Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, the President, and Ms. Madeleine Albright, the U.S. Secretary of State, met and discussed at the United Nations, which has astonished political circles. Another report stated that Ms. Albright was seated in the front row during President Khatami's speech and listened attentively; it is possible that the German news agency referred to this as a meeting and discussion; we await confirmation of this news.

Mr. Akbar Safarian requested assistance for permission to import cars for the cooperative of pistachio producers and exporters from Rafsanjan. I said I did not see it as appropriate and would not intervene. It rained a little in Tehran tonight; I hope it turns out to be significant. I was informed that in Ferdowsiyeh Nouq (Rafsanjan), a group protested against the centralization of three villages.