Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - May 18, 2000 - Ali Larijani's Continued Political Consultations on the Guardian Council's Decision Regarding the Annulment of Tehran Elections

Ali Larijani continued his political consultations, informing about the Guardian Council's decision to annul the Tehran elections, with 8 out of 12 votes in favor of annulment. However, with the intervention and guidance of Ayatollah Khamenei, the elections were not annulled. Hashemi criticized the Guardian Council's approach and decision-making process.

It’s noteworthy that the Guardian Council, despite securing a majority vote to annul the election results in an electoral district, still sought the opinion of the Supreme Leader due to concerns about the repercussions. This raises questions about the Council's ability to assess and manage the consequences of such decisions. In comparison, years later, the Guardian Council independently disqualified the head of the Expediency Discernment Council from running in the presidential elections.

Perhaps we must wait for the publication of Hashemi's memoirs from later years for more details.

Diplomatic and Political Issues with Turkey

Part of the day was spent working at the Kooshk office. In the evening, Mehdi [Hashemi, Managing Director of the Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company] came and reported that two platforms from the Abuzar facilities, constructed in Bushehr, had been transported to the offshore wells, and the large coating factory for undersea pipes in Khorramshahr was operational, creating a positive reception and economic boost in the city. The company, under his management, had also won the contract to lay 100 kilometers of undersea pipes from South Pars to the shore.

Later in the evening, Mr. [Ali] Larijani, [Head of IRIB], informed me that the Guardian Council had decided today that the Tehran elections were void, but due to concerns over the consequences, they had written to the Supreme Leader for guidance. In response, Ayatollah Khamenei advised them to accept the results from the recounted ballot boxes and not to continue further recounts. Mr. [Ahmad] Jannati, [Secretary of the Guardian Council], mentioned that the Council had voted 8 to 4 for annulment but had stipulated seeking the Leader’s opinion, which resulted in the decision. They didn’t handle this well by involving the Leader in such a problematic matter. Previously, Ayatollah Khamenei had told me that if the Guardian Council involved him by asking questions in such situations, they might not receive the desired answer.

Relations between Turkey and Iran have soured due to media reports in Turkey and remarks by the Turkish Foreign Minister and Prime Minister regarding Iran's alleged involvement in aiding the killers of Ugur Mumcu seven years ago. In response, [Kamal Kharrazi], Iran's Foreign Minister, issued a sharp reply. [Ahmet Necdet Sezer], the new Turkish President, has announced that he will not attend the upcoming ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) summit in Tehran. Furthermore, Yasser Arafat's recent negative comments, suggesting a possible Iranian connection to the Pan Am plane crash—where two Libyans are currently on trial in international court—are unjustified.

The war between Ethiopia and Eritrea continues, with Ethiopia making advances in Eritrean territory. The UN Security Council, after a 72-hour deadline, has imposed an arms embargo on both countries.