Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - November 16, 1999 - Mohammad Reza Bahonar's Electoral Advice and Request for Financial Aid

I attended the opening of the meeting of managers of the Islamic Propagation Organization at Hosseiniyeh al-Zahra (S). Managers from across the country were present. Mr. [Mahmoud] Mohammadi Araghi, [Head of the Islamic Propagation Organization], delivered a welcome speech and report. He mentioned that the managers wanted to sign a petition urging me to participate in the elections. I responded by saying it wasn’t necessary; if I determine it to be my duty, I will run, but I have not yet made that decision. Mr. [Mohammad Ali] Taskhiri, [Head of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization], also attended in a wheelchair due to a stroke that left half of his body paralyzed. I expressed my sorrow for his stroke and my relief at his recovery. I then delivered a detailed speech on the need for the clergy, especially preachers, to be equipped with contemporary knowledge and thoughts, and I advocated for the establishment of a specialized school for preaching and propagation.

After returning to my office, [Amir Tehrani], Deputy [Parliamentary Affairs] of the Ministry of Intelligence, [along with Mr. Mahboubi and Mr. Bagheri] came to provide a report on the explosion at the headquarters of the [Mujahedin-e-Khalq] in the vicinity of Basra. A martyrdom-seeking Iraqi Mujahid drove a truck loaded with explosives into the base and detonated it, killing several people. The MEK falsely claimed that it was an Iranian missile attack. They also brought along the martyr’s will recorded in his own voice, which they played for me. They showed a film and corrected some details from their previous report on the Mahdaviyat group.

In the afternoon, [Seyed Hossein Hashemi and Jamshid Ghanbari Maman], representatives from Miyaneh, along with [Morteza Eshraghi, Ali Ahmadi Mianji, and Faezi] came. They invited me to attend a ceremony honoring the martyrs of their county and strongly urged me to participate in the elections, expressing concerns about the potential consequences if I didn’t run.

Mr. [Mohammad Reza] Bahonar, [Member of Parliament for Tehran], came and suggested that I recommend that the Executives of Construction Party (Kargozaran) introduce independent candidates. He also requested financial assistance for the elections, to which I responded that I had no funds available. In the evening, I went home. Yasser, Maryam, and Sara brought dinner. Leili, [Yasser’s daughter], entertained us with her playful antics.