Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's Memoirs - December 14, 1999 The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic made a significant proposal to me. He suggested that if I win in the Sixth Parliamentary elections and become the Speaker of Parliament, I would also retain

This diary entry is of great historical significance. It recounts a meeting with Mohsen Nourbakhsh, Eshaq Jahangiri, Seyyed Hossein Marashi, and Mohammad Atrianfar, where they proposed that I should run in the Sixth Parliamentary elections. They suggested that, given the potential benefit to the Supreme Leader and the conservative faction, I should seek concessions from Ayatollah Khamenei, such as the release of Gholamhossein Karbaschi, Abdullah Nouri, and Mohsen Kadivar. However, I opposed this idea.

During the meeting, I clearly stated that the trial and imprisonment of Gholamhossein Karbaschi stemmed from his support for Seyyed Mohammad Khatami and his role in Khatami's victory in the Second of Khordad 1997 election, not from managerial flaws. The session also covered important topics, including Sheikh Abdullah Nouri’s trial and conviction.

The meeting also included discussions with the Combatant Clergy Association to finalize the candidate list for the Sixth Parliamentary elections. Later, Mohammad Bagher Anvari, the then-head of the Center for Mosque Affairs, sought assistance regarding the insurance issues faced by prayer leaders. I had a one-on-one discussion with Hassan Rouhani about the political climate and the possibility of centrist groups forming an alliance to counter the left and right factions.

The most significant part of this diary is my two-person conversation with Ayatollah Khamenei, where the Supreme Leader made his most significant proposal: if I won the parliamentary elections and became the Speaker of Parliament, I could retain my position as the Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council. The following day, I went to the Tehran Governor’s Office to register for the elections.

Another notable aspect of this meeting was that Ataollah Mohajerani, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, was strongly criticized by Ayatollah Khamenei for the country's cultural state. The Supreme Leader also reproached Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, asserting that some individuals claimed the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution was not legally established. Khatami received a firm response, knowing that over the years, the expansion of Velayat-e Faqih would extend to more councils, such as the Supreme Economic Coordination Council, the Supreme Council of Cyberspace, and the National Coronavirus Task Force. The decisions of these councils would carry the weight of law, and Parliament would lack the power to oppose them.

Detailed Highlights:

• Meeting with Mohsen Nourbakhsh, Eshaq Jahangiri, Hossein Marashi, and Mohammad Atrianfar: They suggested I negotiate for the release of political prisoners in exchange for running in the elections. However, I made it clear that if I participated, it would be solely to fulfill my duty and prevent further crises in the country, not to gain concessions.
• Critique of Khatami’s government: Atrianfar pointed out that the left-wing groups had unrealistic expectations of my support for Karbaschi, whereas Khatami should bear greater responsibility for supporting Abdullah Nouri, whose trial was politically motivated. I reiterated that Karbaschi’s trial was politically charged due to his role in Khatami's election victory.
• Interview with Masoud Safiri: I discussed the post-war period, Ayatollah Montazeri’s dismissal, and Imam Khomeini's passing, along with the appointment of Ayatollah Khamenei as Leader.
• Session with the Combatant Clergy Association: We finalized the list of candidates for the Sixth Parliamentary elections. Mohammad Bagher Anvari also requested help regarding the insurance issues faced by prayer leaders, which had changed since my time in office.
• One-on-one meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei: We discussed the upcoming elections and agreed there was no viable alternative to my candidacy. The Supreme Leader also mentioned his dissatisfaction with the media and some student actions, as well as the cultural state of the country. He confirmed that I could simultaneously serve as Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council.
• Criticism of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance: Ayatollah Khamenei criticized the state of the country’s cultural affairs and mentioned that Khatami had conveyed others’ opinions that the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution was not legally established. The Leader responded firmly to this claim.