Memories Akbar Hashemi - 22 March 1378 - receiving news of the assassination of Saeed Hajarian in front of the Tehran City Council

Participation in the closing ceremony of the Technical and Vocational Olympiad.

Receipt of news regarding the assassination of #Saeed_Hajarian in front of Tehran City Council.

Interview with Channel Two for an interpretation of the guidelines.

Meeting with Seyyed Motehr Kazemi, a representative from the fifth parliament from the Khalkhal constituency, who was not re-elected in the sixth parliament.

Meeting with Ayatollah Seyyed Kamal Faqih Imani.

This morning, I went to the Islamic Conference building to participate in the closing ceremony of the Technical and Vocational Olympiad and to visit the exhibition of vocational training centers from across the country. I toured several booths from all provinces; they had some interesting displays. Then I joined their gathering, where they welcomed me enthusiastically. They mentioned that technical and vocational training has grown and evolved from development programs. Mr. [Hussein] Kamali, the Minister of Labor [and Social Affairs], reported and expressed his gratitude for my support and guidance. I then presented awards to the winners.

Years ago, I had proposed holding the Olympiad, and now I suggested an international Olympiad. In a detailed speech, I discussed the importance and necessity of technical and vocational training as well as the value and significance of work and teamwork.

During my visit, my security detail informed me that it had been announced that Mr. Saeed Hajarian, a member of Tehran City Council and editor-in-chief of the newspaper Sobhe Emruz, had been assassinated and was in the hospital. Later, it became clear that two motorcyclists had shot him, with a bullet entering through his left cheek and lodging between the first and second vertebrae in his neck, leaving him in a coma. As of 10 PM, it was reported that he had a 50% chance of survival. The motives behind the assassination and those responsible remain unclear.

In the afternoon, representatives from Channel Two came for an interview regarding an interpretation of the guidelines; I accepted their proposal. Mr. [Seyyed Motehr] Kazemi, the current representative from Khalkhal, visited me. He is upset that he is trailing behind his competitor by a narrow margin in the current elections and firmly believes that there has been cheating and misconduct by his rival on the left. He expects the Guardian Council to uphold his rights.

Haj Agha Seyyed Kamal Faqih Imani [from Isfahan] came to see me. He praised my services and positions highly, stating that despite extensive smear campaigns by leftists in recent months, religiously committed people, especially clerics, have developed greater interest and trust in your steadfastness and faith. He criticized Mr. [Seyyed Jalal al-Din] Taheri, the Friday prayer leader of Isfahan, for his positions and statements, mentioning that my letter to the Guardian Council requesting a recount had positive effects in society and that contributions to religious funds in Isfahan directed to Ayatollah Khamenei exceed those sent to other clerics. He noted that during President Khatami's visit to Isfahan, clerics did not go to see him as a form of protest. He brought examples of interpretations published in English and Russian.

A meeting of Arab foreign ministers has been held in Lebanon to support Lebanon and its resistance efforts. The final statement addresses this important global issue. The Iranian Foreign Minister was supposed to attend but was unable due to opposition from the United Arab Emirates.