Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - July 9, 2000 - Invitation of National Officials by Ayatollah Khamenei and Remarks Clarifying the Position of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, His Interpretation of Reforms, and Criticism of His Government

Invitation of National Officials by Ayatollah Khamenei and Remarks Clarifying the Position of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami and Criticism of His Government

According to Hashemi's memoirs, the intensity of Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks was such that, despite his praise for the President, it softened the impact of his criticism.

Meeting with Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah and the Central Council of Hezbollah in Lebanon

Meeting with the City Council of Mehdi Shahr, Seeking Hashemi's Assistance for Facilities and the Development of the Region

In the late morning, I went to the Leader’s office. Ayatollah Khamenei had invited the officials and managers for a briefing. First, Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami, [the President], spoke. During his speech, for the second time, he mentioned that if it weren’t for the achievements of the Reconstruction Government, the country would have faced dangerous problems for years, and he explained the details of the Third Development Plan. The Leader then gave a lengthy speech—around an hour and a half. He said that the U.S. has a plan to cause the collapse of the Islamic system in Iran, similar to what they did with the Soviet Union. They assume that Mr. Khatami is playing the role of [Mikhail] Gorbachev [the last leader of the Soviet Union], but they are mistaken; Mr. Khatami is not Gorbachev, Iran is not the Soviet Union, and Islam is not like communism. He expressed surprise at the West's support for so-called reforms and said that reforms must be clearly defined. He offered definitions that were exactly the opposite of what the Second Khordad Front was saying and harshly criticized those who supported deviant publications. Overall, the speech was against the Second Khordad Front, but by praising Mr. Khatami, he softened the criticism.

Meeting with the Central Council of Hezbollah in Lebanon

In the afternoon, the Central Council of Hezbollah in Lebanon arrived. Mr. Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, [the Secretary-General of Hezbollah], gave a report on the victory over Israel and Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon. He explained the resistance's future plans and Hezbollah's policies to prevent Israeli and Western plots. He mentioned that their relations with Syria and the Lebanese government were good, and he believed that after this victory, they could have an influence beyond Lebanon, especially in the Arab world and particularly in Palestine. He expressed gratitude for the support and guidance given to them in the past and today. I also thanked them and encouraged them.

Meeting with the City Council of Mehdi Shahr

The city council of Mehdi Shahr in Semnan Province came. They shared updates on their activities and sought financial support for the construction of a sports stadium and assistance with their library. They also requested that I make a trip to Mehdi Shahr, as I had not visited there during my trip to Semnan, and they asked for my help in elevating the city’s status to that of a county. The U.S. tested an anti-missile missile yesterday, but it was unsuccessful, and given the opposition from many countries, it caused embarrassment for the U.S. government.