Memories of Akbar Hashemi - March 5, 2002 - Important Consultative and Political Meeting with Seyed Ali Akbar Motahhari and Behzad Nabavi

Meeting with Mohammad Reza Alborzi and Report on Foreign Policies

Meeting and Request for Assistance from Alireza Sadeqi and Referral to Sheikh Mohammad Mohammadi Reyshahri

Continuation of Political Controversies Against the Judiciary and its Indifference, Along with Ongoing Detentions and Trials of Political and Press Activists

Full Text of the Daily Journal:

I stayed home all day. I spent my time reading. In the afternoon, Mohammad Reza Alborzi, the Iranian Ambassador to the UN Office in Geneva, came. He criticized the foreign policy situation, considering it to be critical in light of America's positions, and asked for my assistance in initiating negotiations with the U.S., stating that the Foreign Ministry is currently paralyzed.

Alireza Sadeqi, a pre-revolution prisoner, came to see me. He is an electrical engineer and a consultant for a machinery factory in Tabriz. He has conducted research on various narratives and hopes that the system will utilize his expertise. I referred him to Sheikh Mohammad Mohammadi Reyshahri at the Hadith University.

Seyed Ali Akbar Motahhari and Behzad Nabavi, representatives from Tehran, came to discuss the previously arranged meeting with Mehdi Karroubi, the Speaker of Parliament, and Mohammad Reza Khatami, the Deputy Speaker, to summarize and propose solutions to their issues, including the case of Shahram Jazayeri. They expressed their concern that Khatami seems disillusioned and disappointed, and that Karroubi’s actions were merely unpleasant speeches. They look to me for hope.

Regarding the threat from the U.S., I mentioned that the danger is around 20 percent, and we must be careful to avoid conflict, as it would not benefit Iran and would certainly cause harm. They agreed with this view and decided that efforts should be made to prevent any confrontation. They expressed satisfaction with my sermon from yesterday's Eid al-Adha prayer, which called for caution while maintaining a strong position against American threats. They have heard that the right-wing faction is seeking to declare a state of emergency and political blockage, which has raised their concerns.

I stated that I do not agree with this notion and have not perceived anything from the leadership indicating satisfaction with creating an extraordinary situation. They wanted to understand the system's policy regarding the future composition of the Expediency Council. I expressed my opinion that not much should change. They consulted regarding a request from the leadership to adjust the council's composition in favor of the left.

In the evening, Hossein Qasemi, the new CEO of the Kish Free Trade Zone, came with Mohammad Lahouti. He provided a report on the current situation and invited me to visit Kish during the holidays, as I had in previous years. Mohsen Hashemian and Mohammad Fallah also visited. They had a meeting with Tahmasb Mozaffari, the Minister of Economy, to obtain bank facilities for the pistachio exporters' cooperative in Rafsanjan, mentioning that he had behaved rudely. Fallah, the Secretary of the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters, stated that, based on a resolution from the Expediency Council, the revenue from combating narcotics has been deposited into the treasury but is currently not being paid out. He asked for my assistance in this matter.

An Ilyushin aircraft belonging to the IRGC, after taking off from Mashhad with 330 passengers, experienced technical difficulties and caught fire but managed to land safely at Mashhad Airport with no injuries, placing additional pressure on Russian aircraft.

The Office for Strengthening Unity has experienced a split, and the dissenters at Shiraz University have elected a central council. Their rivals claim that the right-wing has infiltrated and consider their actions illegal, leading to increased disputes.

In some cities, limited teacher strikes and class suspensions have resumed, as they find the concessions insufficient. Armed robberies of banks have also increased, and workers' protests are not diminishing.