Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - May 5, 2001 - Ali Larijani's Account of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's Registration for the Presidential Election and Ali Shamkhani's Readiness to Participate in the Election

Consultative Meeting with Sheikh Mohammad Reza Abbasi Fard and a Report on the Disqualifications of Presidential Candidates by the Central Supervisory Board

Meeting with Davood Farzaneh and a Report on the Situation of Travel Agencies Following Ayatollah Khamenei's Directive to Restrict Pilgrimages through Agencies and Centralize Them in the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization

Meeting with Reza Amrollahi Following His Dismissal from the Presidency of Khajeh Nasir al-Din Tusi University

Political Consultative Meeting with Mohsen Nourbakhsh, Eshaq Jahangiri, and Bijan Namdar Zangeneh

Ali Larijani's Account of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's Registration for the Presidential Election and Ali Shamkhani's Readiness to Compete Without Informing the Incumbent President

Meeting with Mohsen Rafighdoost and Complaints About Mohammad Forouzandeh's Management at the Foundation of the Oppressed

Meeting with Sheikh Rajabali Heydarzadeh and Complaints About Mahmoud Hojjati's Ministry

Complete Daily Record:

Mr. Mohammad Reza Abbasi Fard, a member of the Guardian Council and a representative in the Assembly of Experts, visited to discuss the review of presidential candidates and those for the midterm parliamentary elections. The Central Supervisory Board has disqualified most leftist and liberal candidates, and they are awaiting the Guardian Council's opinion.

Mr. Davood Farzaneh, the chairman of the Trade Association of Travel Agencies, and others from the tourism agencies visited. They expressed satisfaction with the increasing influx of tourists to Iran, stating that over one million tourists had arrived last year. However, they complained about the Ministry of Culture's directive prohibiting agencies from taking pilgrims for Umrah, which reportedly followed reports of ethical violations by some agencies to the leadership. They mentioned having nearly two thousand agencies in the country and highlighted the shortage of hotels for travelers, noting that the private sector has not been enthusiastic about investing.

Mr. Reza Amrollahi, the former head of the Atomic Energy Organization, came by. He warned that leftist forces in parliament and the government should not distort the leader's directive regarding the fight against corruption. He expressed his readiness to cooperate with the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Discernment Council. He has been dismissed from his position as head of Khajeh Nasir al-Din Tusi University.

Mr. Mohsen Nourbakhsh, Mr. Eshaq Jahangiri, and Mr. Bijan Namdar Zangeneh, members of the Central Council of the Executives of Construction Party, visited. They mentioned that Mr. Seyyed Mohammad Khatami appeared upset during the Cabinet meeting today and expressed concern that Mr. Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, the head of the judiciary, might want to act unilaterally regarding the implementation of the Leader's eight-point directive on fighting corruption, which is not aligned with the other two branches. They expressed concerns about pressure on the government and requested my assistance for coordination.

Mr. Ali Larijani, the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), stated that Mr. Khatami acted like an actor during his registration, crying several times. He also reported that Mr. Ali Shamkhani, the Minister of Defense, intends to run in the presidential election.

In the evening, Mr. Mohsen Rafighdoost, the former head of the Foundation of the Oppressed, came by. He expressed dissatisfaction with Mr. Mohammad Forouzandeh's management at the Foundation and mentioned issues with the management of the reformist faction. Mr. Shamkhani arrived and stated that he had registered for the presidential election without consulting Mr. Khatami, as he had seen Khatami was unhappy with Mr. Mostafa Hashemi Taba's registration during the Cabinet meeting.

Mr. Rajabali Heydarzadeh, the representative of the leadership in Jihad-e Sazandegi, visited and criticized the performance of Mr. Mahmoud Hojjati, the Minister of Agriculture, regarding the merger of the two ministries.