Memories of Akbar Hashemi - September 12, 2000 - Continuing the Controversy Over the Reception of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami According to Hashemi

• Consultative Meeting with Ali Jannati, Iran's Ambassador to Kuwait; Ali Jannati Was One of the Closest Persons to Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani When Hashemi Was the Deputy Commander-in-Chief.
• Advisory Proposals from Reza Amrollahi and an Important Report on the Participation of Members from the Office of Consolidation of Unity in the Central Council Meeting of Kargozaran and Criticism of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami.
• Meeting with Mohammad Madad, Ahmad Shafiat, and Mohammad Pourkamal, Managers of the Budget and Planning Sector.
• Continuing the Controversy Over the Reception of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami According to Hashemi.
• Hashemi's Account of the Arrest of Gholam Mohammad Jahandideh, the then Representative of Saravan, in the United Arab Emirates.
• Hashemi's Account of a Personal Attack on Security Forces in the Jamarān Area.

Full Text of the Daily Note:

Mr. Ali Jannati, Iran's ambassador to Kuwait, came. He spoke about the unfavorable political and economic situation in Kuwait due to security concerns following Iraq's invasion and the Kuwaiti people's lack of complete trust in Iran, although relations have improved since the invasion and Iran's good positions. He expressed concern about the internal situation in our country, noting that Kuwaiti media typically report negative news, and the U.S. has significant influence there.

Mr. [Reza] Amrollahi [President of Kharazmi University] came with a suggestion that, considering the additional foreign currency revenues, it would be good to revert the currency price to 300 tomans. He also suggested negotiating with Afghanistan to grow wheat instead of opium poppies, and that we could buy their wheat at a higher price to encourage this change. I mentioned the problems with both proposals. He stated that some members of the Office of Consolidation of Unity participated in the Central Council meeting of the Kargozaran Party and criticized Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami for not fulfilling his promises, failing to support them, and being under pressure, which contrasts with Mr. Hashemi's government that had a clear political and economic program. He asked for my assistance to prevent further deviation from their course.

In the afternoon, Messrs. [Mohammad] Madad [Head of the Mapping Organization], [Ahmad] Shafiat, and [Mohammad] Pourkamal visited. They brought samples of the recently compiled National Atlas of Iran and reported on their work, thanking me for laying the foundational groundwork during my presidency, despite some wanting to outsource the compilation to France. The atlas consists of twenty volumes.

Today, OPEC has added 800,000 barrels to its production, causing a slight decrease in oil prices; however, Western countries consider this additional production insufficient. OPEC stated that industrialized nations should reduce the taxes imposed on fuel products. In recent days, protests and demonstrations against high fuel taxes have intensified in European countries.

In today's media, criticisms regarding the reception of the President and the extravagant expenses, including the purchase of 2001 flower bouquets, continue. Mr. Gholam Mohammad Jahandideh, the representative from Saravan, was arrested in the UAE on charges of drug possession.

Yesterday, an individual attacked a security guard in Jamarān, injuring him with a knife, taking his weapon, and claiming he intended to harm me. He has been arrested. After interrogations, it was reported today that he has a psychological history; his parents visited and stated that he suffers from periodic insanity. They provided records of his previous hospitalization at Rouzbeh Hospital, and investigations continue.

The Palestinian Council has decided to postpone the announcement of Palestinian statehood. I had inferred from Mr. [Yasser] Arafat's [President of the Palestinian Authority] remarks in Tehran that this delay would occur, which has pleased Israel and the U.S. while provoking criticism from Palestinian supporters.