Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - November 17, 2000 - A Private Meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei and Consultation Regarding the Concerns Raised by Ayatollah Montazeri's Memoirs

A Private Meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei and Consultation Regarding the Concerns Raised by Ayatollah Montazeri's Memoirs

Participation in the opening ceremony of the congress examining the existential aspects of the Mahdi. Following the publication of a critical article about the Reconstruction government on state television, there were repercussions that led Iffat Marashi to call Ali Larijani to express her objections. Hashemi regarded this action by the television as a well-planned conspiracy during a meeting with several influential figures. The intensity of these reactions prompted Ali Larijani to visit Hashemi to explain and justify the situation.

Meeting with Brigadier General Mehdi Montazeri, who invited Hashemi to attend the Army University graduation ceremony, discussing the logistical and organizational issues within the Army and the Revolutionary Guard, as well as other internal and external conflicts among military commanders that were deemed important enough to report to Hashemi.

Meeting with Seyyed Mohammad Asghari, the former director of Kayhan Institute, who had been appointed as Iran's ambassador to Bulgaria, amidst many rumors about him that he sought to clarify through Hashemi.

Meeting with officials from the Headquarters for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, and a report from Seyyed Ahmad Zargar, the secretary of this headquarters, mentioning that Ayatollah Khamenei advised them to refrain from engaging in executive actions. The question remained whether this headquarters was currently adhering to this advice.

A private meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei to discuss the concerns regarding Ayatollah Montazeri's memoirs and finding solutions, as well as the Supreme Leader's support for the actions and opinions of the Guardian Council regarding the Sixth Parliament's interpretation of the Press Law, along with his grievances regarding the statements of Sheikh Mehdi Karroubi and Behzad Nabavi against the Guardian Council. Hashemi conveyed the concerns and feelings of Seyyed Mohammad Asghari to Ayatollah Khamenei.

Full Daily Entry: I attended the opening ceremony of the third biennial congress titled "Examining the Existential Aspects of the Mahdi." Mr. Mahmoud Mohammadi Iraki, the head of the Islamic Propagation Organization, gave a report and welcomed attendees. I delivered an extensive speech on the philosophy of Mahdism and the concept of the savior in the Abrahamic religions, grounding my remarks in the purpose of creation for the betterment of the world.

I returned to my office. Mr. Ali Larijani, the head of the state television and radio organization, came to defend its performance. Recently, there have been negative comments about the Reconstruction government's actions that have drawn significant objections, especially Iffat's complaint and my own comments during a meeting, where I had labeled it a conspiracy. I did not accept his defense; he claimed there was no intent and it was a mistake. Brigadier General Mehdi Montazeri, the head of military intelligence, came and requested that I attend their graduation ceremony. He mentioned several issues facing the Army, including logistical weaknesses, currency shortages, operational problems with aircraft, and conflicts with the Revolutionary Guard and among Army commanders, as well as the economic issues faced by personnel.

In the evening, officials from the Headquarters for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice visited. Mr. Seyyed Ahmad Zargar reported that the leadership had advised the headquarters to refrain from involvement in executive matters and to focus solely on education, research, and promoting the culture of virtue. I emphasized the need for more scholarly work regarding virtue and vice, and to prevent misconduct by officials and the resulting tarnishing of its image.

That night, I was a guest of the Supreme Leader. We discussed Ayatollah Montazeri's memoirs and the potential harms they could cause. He expressed satisfaction with the Guardian Council's actions regarding the Parliament's interpretation and criticized the harsh words from Mr. Karroubi and Behzad Nabavi regarding the Guardian Council. We also discussed current issues in the country, including Mr. Asghari’s situation, newspapers, and the presidential elections. It was raining nicely.