Memories of Akbar Hashemi - September 11, 2000 - An Extremely Important Consultative Meeting with Seyyed Hossein Marashi and Conveying Reformists' Concerns about Ayatollah Khamenei's Reactions and Preventing Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's Candidacy

• Inauguration of the "Sun of Wilayat" Seminar at the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).
• An Extremely Important Consultative Meeting with Seyyed Hossein Marashi, Conveying Reformists' Concerns about Ayatollah Khamenei's Reactions and Preventing Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's Candidacy for a Second Presidential Term, Based on Remarks Made by the Leader in a Meeting with National Security Officials, Including Putting a Keffiyeh Around His Neck, as Well as a Threat Made by Hashemi in Friday Prayer Sermons for Activating the Assembly of Experts in State Affairs.
• The Weak Reception of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami Upon His Return from New York Reflects Underlying Political Issues, Some of Which Are Highlighted in Hashemi's Adjusted Diary Entries, Particularly His Last Statement Indicating Khatami Was Aware of the Nature of the Reception and Had Previously Approved Such Treatment, Which Has Unfortunately Been Altered by the Publisher.
• Ali Larijani's Remarks to Hashemi Regarding Requests from Reformists and Government Officials, Despite Initial Pressure for Live Broadcasting of the Reception and Subsequent Appeals Not to Air It, Are Very Significant.

Full Text of the Daily Note:

For the inauguration of the "Sun of Wilayat" seminar, aimed at justifying the programs of Amir al-Mu'minin (Commander of the Faithful), we went to the International Conference Center of IRIB. Mr. [Ali] Larijani, [Head of IRIB], and Mr. [Mahmoud] Mohammadi Araqi, [Head of the Islamic Propaganda Organization], welcomed us and provided a report on the programs, admitting that significant progress had not been made in the first half of the year; they hope to make up for it in the second half. I also delivered an extensive speech, emphasizing the need to choose appropriate rhetoric for the times and to focus on various aspects of Ali’s life (peace be upon him) including his childhood, adolescence, migration to Medina, the night of his sacrifice, the honor of leading the battles, his remarkable patience after the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the challenges he faced during his rule, including the character assassination by the Umayyads, all of which should be seen as a model for the representative of God.

Before noon, Mr. Hossein Marashi, [Representative from Kerman], came. He mentioned that the Second Khordad Front is worried about a possible confrontation with the Leader and the prevention of Mr. Khatami's candidacy. He indicated that the Leader, in a meeting with intelligence officials, had stated they would soon uproot the "sedition," and for this reason, they put a keffiyeh around his neck and referenced issues regarding the Assembly of Experts and my remarks during Friday prayers. I said they were unnecessarily worried; if no sedition arises, the situation will remain as it is. He also noted that the weak reception for Mr. Khatami, [the President, upon his return from New York], has caused problems among them. Some were initially opposed, while others believed a large crowd would fill the streets of Tehran, similar to the reception for [Mohammad] Mossadegh, but they became concerned due to the small turnout, which included individuals chanting deviant slogans. Mr. Khatami distanced himself from the people brought to the reception, although some knew he was aware of the situation.

Mr. [Ali] Larijani also mentioned that there was significant pressure to broadcast the reception live initially, but given the small crowd and deviant slogans, they decided against it and requested that it not be aired. Today’s newspapers have also criticized this reception, noting that about two thousand people attended. Additionally, some Western media have begun to criticize his weak positions at the [United Nations General Assembly] regarding freedom.

In the afternoon, I had an extensive interview about the war with IRIB to address doubts. The fuel price crisis in France is easing, but it is starting in the UK and Germany.