Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - April 14, 2000 - Renewed Negotiation, This Time by Phone, with Ayatollah Khamenei Regarding How to Respond to Majid Ansari's Important Letter

Renewed Negotiation, This Time by Phone, with Ayatollah Khamenei Regarding How to Respond to Majid Ansari's Important Letter

There were discussions about Alireza Noorizadeh's analyses in the *Al-Sharq Al-Awsat* newspaper regarding the sixth parliamentary elections, with future reports indicating the accuracy of some parts of that analysis.

I had a renewed negotiation, this time by phone, with Ayatollah Khamenei concerning how to respond to Majid Ansari's important letter regarding the Assembly's proposal to limit parliamentary investigative powers. The Leader stated over the phone that he would not intervene.

Subsequently, Seyyed Ali Asghar Hojjati, Deputy of the Leadership Office, met with me for in-person consultation to coordinate the broader plans for restrictions, which ultimately led to Ayatollah Khamenei's public speech at the beginning of Ordibehesht 1379.

Dr. Saeed Lahouti quoted about the miracles of Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Masoumi, which had spread widely at that time, mentioning that his shrine was to be converted into a park, and bulldozers had stopped near his grave.

Tensions arose between Israel and the United States regarding the sale of AWACS-equipped planes from Israel to China, with the U.S. claiming it would disrupt the balance of power between China and Taiwan. Simultaneously, yesterday, President Jiang Zemin of China arrived in Tel Aviv for a visit to Israel.

In the past two or three days, Iran unilaterally released two thousand Iraqi prisoners. Yesterday in Mashhad, two bombs exploded in front of the Homa Hotel and on Seyyed Javad Khamenei Street, resulting in no casualties. In Pakistan, extremist Sunnis attacked a Shia religious center, martyring and injuring dozens; such ominous incidents typically occur during Muharram.

Yesterday in the United States, a protest against economic globalization and global trade was held. Western media, citing *Al-Sharq Al-Awsat* and Iranian exiled figure Alireza Noorizadeh, raised alarm that conservatives and the IRGC are preparing a coup against Mr. Khatami. They point to the annulment of elections in some cities and the potential annulment of the elections in Tehran, linking them to an attack on the press, and even relating a car accident involving Mr. Rajabali Mazrouei to the arrival of a dog in his car’s path.

Efat and her sister Ashraf attended a mourning ceremony, and unlike other Thursdays when I would go to the Koushk Office, I went to the Assembly's office to complete tasks before the holidays. Until evening, I focused on studying reports, newspapers, bulletins, and managing office affairs.

I spoke by phone with the Leader regarding the response to Mr. Majid Ansari's letter and the Assembly’s proposal concerning investigations into institutions under the Leader's supervision. He said they would neither confirm nor deny anything. In the evening, Mr. Seyyed Ali Asghar Hojjati from the Leadership Office came. I provided remarks about the Leader's speech plans, press issues, and the judiciary.

Mr. Mohammad Jameei, one of the guards, sent dinner from the offerings of their mosque—ghorme sabzi and rice. Dr. Saeed Lahouti, Fati's husband, also joined us. During dinner, he shared instances of the miracles of the late Seyyed Mohammad Taqi Masoumi, mentioning that his grave is in an abandoned cemetery in Mashhad. Apparently, last year, when there were plans to convert the cemetery into a park, the bulldozers did not proceed near his grave, and therefore, upon the order of Mr. Abbas Vaez Tabasi, the custodian of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza, his grave was preserved.