Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - March 13, 2001 - Meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei

A meeting with members of the Tehran Livestock Union revealed that Ayatollah Khamenei has delegated his powers related to Article 110, Clause 1 of the Constitution to the Expediency Council, thereby raising expectations from this council.

A meeting with Gholamali Kouhsari involved consultations on the merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Jihad for Reconstruction.

Kazem Mirolad, accompanied by officials from the Court of Auditors, proposed concentrating oversight powers.

In addition, I officiated the marriage of one of Ali Madadi's relatives from the Revolutionary Guards Protection Unit.

A meeting with Hadi Tabatabai discussed problems and disagreements with Mahdi Mofidi regarding sugarcane production.

Sheikh Abdul Majid Maadi Khah's visit included discussions surrounding his assigned responsibilities.

The most important meeting today was with Ayatollah Khamenei, who remarked that the accusations of subversion and war against students were unfounded. He also noted that Seyed Mohammad Khatami had not consulted him regarding participation in the upcoming elections.

I reported on the intensity of the Chaharshanbeh Suri ceremonies and the public's disregard for the recommendations of the Ghadir Committee.

Twenty-one members of the National-Religious Front were freed from custody, and there were reactions regarding the arrests by the judiciary.

Complete Entry:

A group of owners and heads of the Tehran Livestock Union visited. They expressed their concerns regarding the Ministry of Jihad Agriculture's negligence towards livestock issues, as well as their challenges in securing loans and feed. They requested my assistance to continue the advancements made in livestock during the Reconstruction period. With the announcement of oversight being assigned to the Expediency Council, such expectations have increased.

Mr. Gholamali Kouhsari, the representative from Gorgan, spoke about the political, economic, and cultural situation in the country, expressing regret that I am not in the parliament. He requested my help in reducing tensions and expressed concerns over the new weaknesses arising in agriculture due to the merger of the two ministries.

Mr. Kazem Mirolad, the head of the Court of Auditors, and his deputies reported on budget discrepancies and their difficulties in managing miscellaneous appropriations and overlaps with the General Inspection Organization. They suggested that financial matters be exclusively managed by the Court.

In the evening, I officiated the marriage of one of Mr. Ali Madadi's relatives. I also had an extensive interview with Dr. Sadegh Zibakalam, a professor at Tehran University, which will continue.

It was reported that a number of leaders from the National-Religious Front were arrested last night at Mr. Mohammad Basteh Negar's residence, and there have been leftist attacks on the judiciary, allegedly coinciding with the President's speech in parliament and ahead of his trip to Russia.

Domestic and foreign media have extensively analyzed Mr. Khatami's remarks yesterday, generally stating that he did not present any new ideas and merely repeated past statements. The right-wing faction views it as an electoral propaganda move, while some foreign media, expecting harsh and divisive rhetoric, have responded coldly, acknowledging that Mr. Khatami's government has failed to fulfill its promises.

Tonight marks Chaharshanbeh Suri, and the sound of fireworks and firecrackers is incessantly heard, accompanied by the smell of gunpowder. Despite repeated warnings, reckless actions continue, resulting in numerous fires and injuries in various cities. The Ghadir Committee had organized numerous celebrations and illuminations in parks and squares to dissuade the public from the traditional fire-related activities, but their efforts had little impact.

Western media expressed discontent regarding Mr. Khatami's upcoming visit to Russia and the military and nuclear agreements. Domestically, criticism of the judiciary has intensified due to the arrests. Officially, the detention of 21 members of the National-Religious Front and the release of 10 of them have been announced. A total of 152 members of parliament and several political parties condemned the judiciary's actions.

In Pakistan, the wave of terrorism has intensified following the execution of Haq Nawaz, the assassin of Shahid Sadegh Ganjis, with over 50 fatalities reported. In Indonesia, pressure on President Abdurrahman Wahid to resign has increased.