Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - March 26, 2000 - Ali Larijani's Consultations Following Ayatollah Khamenei's Macro Policies

New Year Visits by Hashemi

Consultations by Ali Larijani on the continuation of Ayatollah Khamenei's macro policies and managing media propaganda, especially regarding the assassination attempt on Saeed Hajjarian.

Today was the first working day of the year. From 9 AM to 1 PM, I had continuous New Year visits; former and current ministers, deputies, members of parliament, managers, and various personalities came by. The meetings were not completed and were postponed to tomorrow.

Mr. Ali Larijani, head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), mentioned that after broadcasting a report from the Central News Unit on the leftist and Second of Khordad Movement affiliations of some individuals in the group responsible for the assassination attempt on Saeed Hajjarian, there was significant pressure from certain circles in their media against IRIB. He said the information is accurate and derived from the case file since the IRGC had initially identified them and reported the matter to the Supreme Leader and the President. The broadcasting of this news has thwarted their extensive propaganda efforts to undermine the IRGC, Basij, and Hezbollah. This topic has also been part of many discussions during the meetings. In the evening and night, I worked in my office and stayed there overnight.

Another mass grave has been discovered in Uganda, related to a religious sect, which has further highlighted the seriousness of the hundreds of deaths involved. The trial and lengthy prison sentences of dozens of members of the Islamic Liberation Party in Uzbekistan have also drawn attention from religious and global circles.

The "Euro," the common currency of European countries, which started its printing with a value approximately 1.5% higher than the dollar, has gradually declined in value and has now fallen below the dollar. Experts attribute this to the stronger economy of the United States compared to Europe.