Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - August 18, 2000 - Hashemi's Follow-Up with Sheikh Abbas Vaez Tabasi Regarding a Fax from Mashhad from a Person Named Kamran with Whistleblower Content

Hashemi's follow-up with Sheikh Abbas Vaez Tabasi regarding a fax letter from Mashhad sent by a person named Kamran, containing whistleblower content, was of such significance that the office of the Chairman of the Expediency Council brought it to his attention. The contents were deemed so important that Hashemi personally requested that Vaez Tabasi investigate the matter, rather than delegating it to the Expediency Council office. However, either Hashemi or the publisher glossed over the details of the fax.

The rumor regarding the succession of leadership by Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, which I previously noted might have been edited in Hashemi's writings, continued to circulate. He had asked Sheikh Ibrahim Amin to deny this rumor, but it had not been addressed. Today, Hashemi personally contacted Amin and requested a denial.

In the complete daily account:

I was at home, spending my time reading a book by Shuja' al-Din Ebrahimi, a poet from Mashhad, who compiled recent articles to counter the smear campaigns of opponents. I also focused on improving my English and reading bulletins and newspapers, as well as revising interpretation guides.

A letter faxed from a person named Kamran in Mashhad reached my office, suggesting a conspiracy. I called Sheikh Abbas Vaez Tabasi, the custodian of the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, to investigate this individual. Later that evening, he responded that they had tracked him down; he was in Mashhad and engaged in various activities. The Ministry of Information should provide results, as this could resemble the activities of the tape-makers. Mohsen also joined the discussion on this topic. It was decided to refer the matter to the Ministry of Information, but we preferred to wait for the response from Mashhad first.

The false rumor regarding Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi's succession has gained traction. Today, Ms. Azam Taleghani criticized it during a student camp, asserting that Shahroudi is an Iraqi expatriate with assets abroad and lacks revolutionary credentials. It was supposed that Ibrahim Amin, the head of the Assembly of Experts Secretariat, would deny this rumor, but he has not. I reminded him to take action via phone.

The situation regarding the Russian submarine is still ongoing, with Norway and the UK taking steps to assist. The U.S. denied reports of two Iranian pilots being rescued by American ships. Nationalists continue to express their opposition to the Supreme Leader's decision to shelve the press reform bill, which is unprecedented.