Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 28, 2003

The announcement of success in synthesizing a gene at the University of Massachusetts, USA, is notable in the advancement of science. At the same time, the announcement of the cause of the Columbia space shuttle's destruction seven months earlier has caused embarrassment for the United States.

News of the arrest of another person in Belgium named Saeed Baghban, on charges of involvement in the bombing of the Argentine Jewish center [AMIA], along with the continued crisis of the detention of Hadi Soleimanpour in London, indicates planning against Iran. Mr. Ali Ahani's trip to London to resolve the issue is also being considered.

The arrest of Mr. Isa Saharkhiz, former Director General of Internal Press Affairs at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and managing director of the Aftab monthly magazine, in Tehran, and the insult by Mr. Mohsen Armin to Mr. Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, the head of the judiciary, with the accusation of interfering in the manner of announcing the criminality of the Ministry of Intelligence agents, is important.

Yesterday, the Leader, in a meeting with government members, attacked the extremists of both the left and right factions and held officials responsible for striving toward construction, reform, and moderation, which in political circles is seen as the Leader's views moving closer to the practical policies of the Reconstruction era.

Yesterday, the first six-party meeting to follow up on North Korea's nuclear program was held in China, but no results were achieved. The trip of John Bolton, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, to Russia regarding Russian cooperation with Iran on nuclear programs also appears to have been fruitless.

Yasser Arafat, the head of the Palestinian Authority, asked Palestinian militant groups to remain committed to the three-month ceasefire. Abdul Aziz Rantisi, one of Hamas's leaders, responded that given Israel's repeated violations of the ceasefire, there is no reason for the militants to remain committed. At the same time, the US rejected Arafat's interference in Palestinian affairs and said he was trying to downplay the role of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Prime Minister!

The US is angry at Iran's information dissemination regarding the occupiers' problems in Iraq, but given the psychological warfare it is waging against Iran, it cannot expect anything from Iran. Iran's extensive intelligence from inside Iraq and the fact that Iraqi cities are within the range of Iranian television waves are major advantages for Iran in this psychological war and a point of weakness for the US.

Today, Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister, was brought to the inquiry into the death of David Kelly and defended himself. Previously, it was thought that Geoff Hoon, the Defense Minister, would take the blame to save Blair, but he did not and defended himself as well. Additionally, the Bahá'ís have been using the issue of Kelly's death to gain fame for their religion; it is said that he had become a Bahá'í four years ago. Saeed Baghban, due to having a diplomatic position, has been released, and Isa Saharkhiz has also been released.