Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - December 7, 1999 - Mohsen Rezaee's Meeting with Hashemi and Stating He Will Run in the Sixth Parliamentary Elections Only If Akbar Hashemi Runs

Hashemi’s reflections and accounts of Grozny's siege by Russia and the presence of an Iranian delegation in Russia led by Kamal Kharrazi, representing Seyed Mohammad Khatami, the President of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

A meeting with Mr. Nourani and his son regarding a claim of inventing a fuel-less power plant, though the fate of such a claim remains unclear.

Sadegh Kharrazi’s request for a meeting and the news of Gholamhossein Karbaschi’s temporary leave from prison, with a request for Hashemi to attempt another effort to release him.

A meeting with Mohsen Rezaee, where he stated that he would only run in the Sixth Parliamentary Elections if Akbar Hashemi does, to which Hashemi responded in a practical manner, emphasizing that Rezaee should resign from his post as Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council, even if only formally. However, Rezaee did not ultimately run for the Sixth Parliamentary Elections.

A meeting of the Combatant Clergy Association was held to discuss the list of candidates for the Sixth Parliamentary Elections.

The most significant aspect of today’s memoir is Hashemi's one-on-one meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei.

Key historical points from this meeting include:

• Discussions on how to regulate the press, which has consistently been a concern of the Supreme Leader of Iran.
• Ayatollah Khamenei's insistence that Hashemi run for the Sixth Parliamentary Elections, with a concern that the U.S. and anti-revolutionary elements seek to take over the Parliament, and only Hashemi can mitigate this danger in the Leader’s view.
• Ayatollah Khamenei's deep dissatisfaction with the actions and statements of Sheikh Abdullah Nouri during his trial in the Special Clerical Court, though his opinion of Gholamhossein Karbaschi seemed more favorable.
• The Leader's dissatisfaction with the actions of the Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat (Office for Strengthening Unity) in universities.

Russia announced that Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, has been completely surrounded, warning the residents to leave the city within five days or risk their lives. Meanwhile, U.S. President [Bill Clinton] warned Russian President [Boris Yeltsin] not to get bogged down in this quagmire and called for military withdrawal from Chechnya within five days. NATO members have also issued warnings to Russia, but Moscow has responded by stating that this is a domestic issue, and outsiders have no right to interfere. Reports indicate that today, large numbers of Grozny residents are leaving the city.

Meanwhile, an Iranian delegation led by [Kamal] Kharrazi, [Minister of Foreign Affairs], is in Russia to help resolve the Chechen issue on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and they were expected to visit Chechnya.

[Mr. Mohamed Azroual], the Moroccan ambassador, came for a farewell visit. The discussions were friendly, with hopes expressed for further development of relations. Mr. Nourani and his son came. His son, an engineer, made a significant claim, stating that he had invented a power plant that produces electricity without fuel. His request was that if a small model could be provided, permission would be granted to build a plant of this type, which would require less investment than thermal, gas, hydro, wind, or solar plants. I said it was highly unlikely that this claim was true, but if it were proven, his request would be accepted.

Mr. Sadegh Kharrazi, [Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs], came and mentioned that Mr. [Gholamhossein] Karbaschi was on leave but was not in good spirits, requesting a meeting with him and suggesting a plan for his release.

Mr. Mohsen Rezaee, [Secretary of the Expediency Council], came and said he would only run in the elections if I did and asked if I would be running. I said I hadn’t decided yet, but if he intended to run, he must resign from his position as Secretary of the Expediency Council and has only until Thursday to do so. He agreed to resign, and if I chose not to run, he could withdraw his resignation.

In the afternoon, the commanders of the Sarallah Base came to report on their work and plans. I gave them some advice, particularly regarding the activities of the Basij students, in light of recent student actions.

I attended the meeting of the Combatant Clergy Association, where there was much discussion about my participation in the elections. They insisted strongly, but I gave no promise. The list of the association's candidates for the elections was also discussed.

In the evening, I was a guest of the Leader. We discussed the press and ways to regulate them. Ayatollah Khamenei strongly and seriously insisted that I run for the elections, stating that there was no one else who could avert the dangers facing the revolution through Parliament. He believes that America and counter-revolutionary forces have a plan to take over Parliament. I reiterated my usual arguments, even suggesting an istikhara (a prayer for guidance), which he rejected, saying that when there is a clear rational decision, there is no need for an istikhara. I said I would think about it more.

We also discussed the sentencing of Mr. [Abdullah] Nouri, [Editor-in-Chief of Khordad newspaper]. The Leader was very upset with Nouri’s actions and statements and was unwilling to intervene. Regarding Mr. Karbaschi, we also had discussions, and it seemed that the Leader had a more favorable view of him than before. We also spoke about the disturbances caused by the Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat members in the universities, and the Leader expressed his displeasure. He has been ill for a week, but his fever has now subsided.