Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - January 14, 2000 - The Leader Stressed: "Our Positions and Statements Should Align So That People Do Not Feel Divided and Can Feel Reassured"

These entries, leading up to Karbaschi's release, are highly significant.

Mohammad Hashemi shared a conversation regarding Gholamhossein Karbaschi, who expected to be released without having to submit a pardon request. Ejei and Sheikh Rouhollah Hosseinian met with Karbaschi in Evin Prison, teaching him how to write a pardon request to Ayatollah Khamenei, but Karbaschi refused to sign it. Instead, he requested a leave to consult with Hashemi Rafsanjani on the matter.

Karbaschi also expressed grievances about the reformists and President Mohammad Khatami's response to his imprisonment. He felt that Khatami was not taking significant action, merely forming committees at best. He also believed that the reformist camp was not in favor of his release.

Abdolmajid Moadei Khouh exaggerated the impact of his article in the Asr-e-Azadegan newspaper, thinking it had significantly influenced the reformists. He also expressed concerns about criticism from Kayhan newspaper and suspected that the criticism might have been encouraged by the Leader's office. Moadei Khouh also suggested reconciliation with Seyyed Hadi Khamenei, who, he said, was at odds with the reformists.

Seyyed Abdolvahed Mousavi Lari, the Interior Minister, came and complained about the Guardian Council's disqualification of many candidates, seeking assistance. Karbaschi also met to discuss his potential pardon. He hoped to be released without requesting a formal pardon but was willing to write one if necessary. He had already prepared a draft in Hosseinian’s handwriting.

The Guardian published a significant piece featuring Ayatollah Montazeri's responses to joint questions from The Guardian and Reuters, in which he harshly criticized the Leader, the Guardian Council, and the clerical establishment, claiming the country had become more constricted due to the powers of the Leader and the Guardian Council. Western media outlets, including foreign Persian-language radios, have extensively covered this over the past two days.

Additionally, the disclosure of key points from secret negotiations between Syria and Israel in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz has angered the U.S., which officially stated that the opinions expressed were not America's but those of the Israeli and Syrian sides.