Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 4, 1998

In the US House of Representatives, a plan has been approved that will reduce the US aid to the International Atomic Energy Agency to the extent of the aid it gives to Iran, in order to fight the policy of building missiles in Iran. The overwhelming majority of representatives have voted; Although the US government is against it. At the same time, American pressure on Iraq has increased and there is talk of trying Saddam as a war criminal.

In the evening, Mr. [Masoud] Nili, Deputy [Economics and Coordination] of the Program and Budget Organization came. He had the same position before; He went to England to continue his education and now he has returned with a doctorate degree and is working. He is worried about the political and economic situation of the country. He wanted to help solve problems.

[Mr. Mohsen Nourbakhsh, Mohammad Ali Najafi and Mohammad Hashemi], a group of [party officials] agents came and asked Mr. [Gholamohsin] Karbaschi to solve the problem. They expect me to declare a position in favor of Karbaschi; I said, I prefer to help without advertising. They agreed that the plan announced by the government as an economic system had no serious content and the announcement was repetitive. I stayed in my office at night.

The issue of Iraq has become critical again. [Mr. Richard Butler], the head of the inspectors, is angry because of Iraq's non-cooperation and is going to report to the Security Council [UN]. It is claimed, the destruction of Iraq's prohibited weapons has not been proven. The situation in northern Afghanistan is critical, to the detriment of the United Islamic Front, and the Taliban are advancing.