Memories of Akbar Hashemi - February 14, 2001 - Sheikh Mohsen Araki's Request to Hashemi for Reviving the Islamic Republic Party

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's Extremely Important Account of Heated Discussions Within the Assembly of Experts Between Majid Ansari, Seyyed Ali Mohammad Dashtgheib, Remarks by Sheikh Abolqasem Khazali and Seyyed Ali Akbar Gharishi, and the Statements of Sheikh Abbas Kaabi, Sheikh Mohammad Yazdi, Seyyed Ahmad Khatami, Ghaffari Qarah Bagh, Sheikh Mohammad Ali Mohammadi Kermani, and Ali Asghar Masoumi, Concluding with Sheikh Ali Moshkini

Sheikh Mohsen Araki's Request to Hashemi for Reviving the Islamic Republic Party

In Today's Journal Entry, Hashemi References Remarks by Sheikh Abolqasem Khazali on the Following Subject:

Sheikh Abolqasem Khazali stated at the second national conference of political and ideological trainers of the Basij that the public call from Imam Khomeini to mobilize people into the streets in February 1979 was communicated through a connection he had with the Imam of the Age. Initially, Ayatollah Taleghani warned the Imam that implementing this order could lead to many casualties, but the Imam responded that this command did not originate from him but came through a connection with someone representing the Imam of the Age. If the Imam had not declared this command and the people had not taken to the streets, the revolution would not have succeeded, and the Imam would have also been killed.

The person who transmitted this message from the Imam of the Age to the Imam is still alive, and in a recent conversation I had with him, I received this message from him. He told me that during a meeting with the Imam of the Age, he stated that the government currently held by the clergy will eventually fall into my hands.

Full Text of the Daily Journal:

In the morning and afternoon, the Assembly of Experts held a session. Most of the time was spent on pre-agenda speeches and revising the regulations. Mr. Majid Ansari, [representative from Tehran in the Assembly of Experts], received significant criticism regarding government budget support for the Qom [Seminary]. A debate ensued regarding the accuracy of government support for the seminary. I support the assistance, as I have stated in an interview with the Hozour magazine. Mr. Majid Ansari criticized the leadership report, stating that the leader has been downgraded to the level of a cultural group leader, and he questioned the reasoning behind the leader's qualifications and management. Several representatives objected to Mr. Seyyed Ali Mohammad Dashtgheib's speech. Mr. Dashtgheib had criticized Mr. [Abolqasem] Khazali for speaking about the message of the Imam of the Age, and Mr. Khazali responded that the newspapers had distorted his words. Mr. [Seyyed Ali Akbar] Gharishi, representative from Urmia, accused Mr. Dashtgheib of wanting to eliminate the Imam of the Age.

In the evening, the members of the Assembly were my guests. Mr. [Abbas] Kaabi, [representative from Khuzestan], described the country’s situation as critical and called the government's management weak. Mr. Majid Ansari defended the government and parliament, after which Mr. [Mohammad] Yazdi, [representative from Tehran], Mr. [Ahmad] Khatami, [representative from Kerman], Mr. [Mir Akbar] Ghaffari Qarah Bagh, [representative from West Azerbaijan], Mr. [Mohammad Ali] Mohammadi Kermani, [representative from Kerman], and Mr. [Ali Asghar] Masoumi, [representative from Khurasan], rejected Mr. Ansari's remarks. Mr. [Ali] Moshkini, [head of the Assembly], criticized the country’s cultural situation while praying. I then spoke, expressing my concern over the extensive anti-religious and anti-revolutionary movements and the unfavorable environment for investment, leading to capital flight and brain drain. I deemed the solution to be unity and solidarity among the revolutionary forces. Mr. [Mohsen] Araki, [representative from Khuzestan], requested that I revive the Islamic Republic Party.

The conflict between Russia and the European Union with the United States continues over the anti-missile initiative and the Star Wars program, with claims that this U.S. action will render the SALT I and II agreements ineffective.