Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - February 26, 2000 - Meeting with Ali Larijani and Ali Akbar Velayati and receiving electoral advice

Meeting with Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a member of the Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council, mistakenly referred to as a member of the Supreme National Security Council by the editor, and his noteworthy suggestion to Hashemi

Seyed Morteza Nabavi's dream recounted in his meeting with Hashemi

Consultative meeting with Sheikh Masih Mohajeri

Meeting with Ali Larijani and Ali Akbar Velayati and receiving electoral advice

Meeting with Sheikh Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kermani

Continued electoral consultations and discussions between Mohsen Hashemi and his father

Request for assistance and attention from Yassoubi, the Friday prayer leader and representative of the Supreme Leader in Ilam

Meeting with Ali Abbaspour and his concerns about the dire state of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution

Continued support efforts by Effat Marashi

Seyed Hossein Mousavian, [a member of the Supreme National Security Council], came. He suggested that I should not go to Parliament, and if I do, I should not run for the presidency, so that the true nature of the leftist groups would be revealed. He was also one of the few who previously advised against my candidacy.

Dr. [Ali] Baghbanian, the representative of Natanz, came and expressed loyalty. He said that the wise members of Parliament are with me and expressed regret over my low vote count in Tehran. He blamed the situation on the left-wing propaganda and the inaction of the right-wing and my allies.

Seyed Morteza Nabavi, [the managing director of the newspaper "Resalat"], came and shared a dream he had about me, urging me to be cautious and confirming that I wouldn’t withdraw. Masih Mohajeri, [managing director of the newspaper "Jomhouri Eslami"], also visited.

He offered suggestions regarding the press and brought a film from CNN. It contained interviews and reports from Iran that were quite offensive, showing American hope for the revolution's failure.

Dr. [Ali Akbar] Velayati, [Advisor to the Supreme Leader in International Affairs], and Dr. [Ali] Larijani, [Head of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting], came. They wanted to know if I intended to enter Parliament or not, to which I provided a suitable response. Sheikh Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kermani, [representative of Tehran], came.

On behalf of [the Combatant Clergy Association], he wanted to ensure that I would not withdraw, and after receiving my confirmation, he left pleased. At noon, Mohsen, [CEO of Tehran Metro], came to consult on continuing his work with the metro. I advised him to continue until further notice. He conveyed a message from Mr. [Gholamhossein] Karbaschi, [Secretary General of the Executives of Construction Party], proposing that I issue a statement.

In the afternoon, [Mojtaba Yassoubi], the Friday prayer leader of Ilam, came. He spoke about the problems and shortages in Ilam and complained about the lack of cooperation from the governor and government officials. He sought my assistance and pressed hard for serious action from me and the leadership to rein in the unruly state of affairs within the government and the left-wing and liberal factions.

Dr. [Ali] Abbaspour, [Tehran representative and member of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Azad University], came. He lamented the tragic state of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, stating that it neither makes decisions nor considers the need for reforming the cultural situation in line with the leadership's vision. He said that the absence of some of the valued members at meetings allows non-religious elements to dominate the majority.

Effat [Marashi] went to Qom today to provide aid to Iraqi refugees, who were reported to be in a very distressing condition. She collected donations for them.

The Taal volcano in the Philippines has erupted and could seriously affect the environment. In Chechnya, a video of a mass grave of Chechens has been released, causing significant pressure on Russia, which denies its authenticity.

Pope [John Paul II], today, visited the foothills of Mount Sinai in Egypt and the eastern Sinai desert to learn more about the history of Prophet Moses. This is the first time such a visit has been made by a pope.

[French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin], while in Israel, called Hezbollah a terrorist organization, prompting strong criticism from Arab countries and Iran. The French president announced that he would seek clarification from him. Jospin was also attacked by Palestinian students yesterday in the West Bank, which led to the cancellation of his visit to a Palestinian camp. [Turkish Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit] said yesterday that the results of Iran's parliamentary elections signal the end of the revolutionary era, for which Iran has demanded accountability.