Memories of Akbar Hashemi - January 25, 2002 - Meeting with Ali Larijani and Criticism of the Majlis's Action to Reduce the Budgetary Allocations for IRIB

Reports by Asghar Abkhiz and Mohammad Hossein Zarei on the Celebration of the Revolution

Consultative Meeting with Sheikh Ali Akbar Masoudi Khomeini and Alireza Tabesh Regarding Development Plans for the Shrine and Qom, Including Quotes from Seyyed Mohammad Khatami Expressing Doubts About Running for Election Due to Opposition from Religious Authorities

Meeting with Sheikh Ahmad Ahmadi, Criticizing the Operations of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, Proposing the Candidacy of Mir Hossein Mousavi, and Quotes from Sadegh Zibakalam, Abbas Abdi, Saeed Hajarian, and Hamidreza Jalai-Pour

Meeting with Ali Larijani, Criticism of the Majlis's Action to Reduce the Budgetary Allocations for IRIB, and a Strange Statement from Akbar Ganji Threatening to Expose Information About Khatami if He is Not Released from Prison

Mortar Shells Hit the Revolutionary Court Headquarters in Tehran

Full Text of the Daily Notes:

Officials from the committees organizing the 10-Day Dawn celebrations arrived from across the country. Mr. Asghar Abkhiz and Mr. Mohammad Hossein Zarei, the head of the organizing committee for the celebrations, presented a report on the programs. I spoke about the new methods of the enemies' propaganda and the necessity of appropriate information dissemination to expose their plots.

Mr. Ali Akbar Masoudi Khomeini, the custodian of the holy shrine of Hazrat Masumeh (SA) in Qom, accompanied by Engineer Alireza Tabesh, the Deputy Minister of Housing and Urban Development and head of the Housing Foundation, discussed the development plan for the shrine and new courtyard, which includes 22,000 square meters of land and 30,000 square meters of building, along with associated costs and needs. They had differing opinions regarding the construction of graves in the basement. When asked for my opinion, I stated that many people wish to have graves there, which fosters greater community connection to Qom and provides income for the shrine; the government will cover the construction costs.

Mr. Masoudi was my guest for lunch. He mentioned that during a meeting with Mr. Seyyed Mohammad Khatami a few weeks ago, Khatami indicated that he is unlikely to run for president again, and he relayed that religious scholars in Qom, such as Mr. Mirza Javad Tabrizi, oppose Khatami's re-election.

In the afternoon, Mr. Ahmad Ahmadi from the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution visited. He stated that the council is practically paralyzed and is not making decisions, expressing regret over the time of my presidency and suggesting that Engineer Mir Hossein Mousavi should be proposed as a presidential candidate to encourage Khatami to withdraw. He said that Mr. Sadegh Zibakalam, a professor at Tehran University, told him there had been a meeting with Abbas Abdi, Saeed Hajarian, Hamidreza Jalai-Pour, and him before the sixth Majlis elections, where they concluded that only Hashemi might be a serious rival and that he should be weakened.

Mr. Ali Larijani, the head of IRIB, came to express concern about the elimination of a portion of the IRIB budget by the Majlis amid a confrontation involving Mr. Mehdi Karroubi, the Speaker of the Majlis, and some members of the Participation Front, including Mr. Mohammadreza Khatami, the Deputy Speaker. He criticized the Judiciary's weakness and hesitation in dealing with opponents of the revolution and made suggestions regarding the presidential elections and the trial of defendants in the serial murders case. He stated that Mr. Akbar Ganji has contacted Mr. Khatami's office from prison, saying he is languishing there, and if he does not receive assistance, he will reveal information he has regarding the president.

In the evening, six mortar shells were fired at the Revolutionary Court headquarters by the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, resulting in several injuries. There is intense pressure on the Judiciary from domestic groups, government officials, and foreign entities.