Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - November 14, 1999 - Expectations for Me to Step In Like the Early Years of the Revolution and Address the Chaos

Before noon, I attended the opening ceremony of the congress commemorating the late Mohammad Taqi Jafari at the University of Tehran. Mr. Ali Akbar Sadeghi Rashad, the head of the Research Institute for Islamic Culture and Thought, welcomed the attendees and gave a report. I also spoke about Mr. Jafari’s role in bridging the gap between the seminary and the university and explained the significant benefits of this coordination and the dangers of their separation.

In the afternoon, Mr. Asadollah Badamchian, Executive Secretary of the Islamic Coalition Party, came to see me. He provided an overview of the current political, cultural, administrative, and economic issues in the country and expressed concern about the future. However, he didn’t have a clear plan for addressing these challenges. They expect me to step in, like in the early years of the revolution, and take action to prevent further disorder.

Mr. Reza Seifollahi also visited. He has recently been appointed as the commander of the Nasr Headquarters, replacing Mr. Ali Aghamohammadi. He complained about the lack of a clear strategy, a defined program, and sufficient authority. He is right; there is no clear policy regarding Iraq, the future, opposition forces, or the refugees. I agreed to help.

Today, the UN Security Council's sanctions against Afghanistan took effect, and no extension was granted to the Taliban's request. The death toll from the recent earthquake in Turkey, which struck the Black Sea region in northeastern Turkey and northeast of Istanbul, has risen to around 400, with over 3,000 injured.