Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – June 30, 2003

Mr. Mohammad Ali Nabizadeh, the representative of Gachsaran, came. He had previously been the secretary of the Islamic Republic Party there. He said that the party members have maintained their relations and the people are waiting for the opening of the Kowsar Dam, which they consider a gift from the Construction Crusade government and which is being completed with delay. He also raised the problems of the NGL project, which began during the Construction Crusade government. He said that one of his friends was invited to a meeting in Shiraz where a number of internal counter-revolutionary leaders from Kurds, Turks, tribes, and others were present and have relations with America. It seems they are among the agents of the recent unrest and are supposed to hold another meeting soon.

Dr. Seyyed Kazem Foroutan, the Vice President of Shahed University, and a group of his physician colleagues, along with Mr. Abdolali Tavajjohi, a cleric and head of the university's law department, came. They explained the seminar program on examining family sexual problems from medical, legal, and social perspectives and asked me to help them.

Mr. Sadr al-Din Qabanchi, the head of the office of the Supreme Council of Iraq and the interim Friday prayer leader of Najaf and a member of the council, came. He gave a comprehensive report on the situation in Iraq, the Supreme Council, the Badr Corps, the Najaf Seminary, and others. He said that Ayatollah Seyyed Ali al-Sistani has good relations with the Supreme Council and has recently issued a fatwa that the United States has no right to take any action regarding the Iraqi constitution. He added that the people's opposition to America is gradually increasing due to insecurity, mistreatment of families, lack of public services, and the rejection of a popular government. He noted that most armed clashes with Americans are by remnants of the Ba'ath Party. He said that in the final period of Saddam Hussein's rule, the Ba'athists passed a resolution that, in the event of the fall of Saddam's government, the remnants of the Ba'ath should launch a guerrilla war against America, destroy sensitive centers, infiltrate seminaries, and kill Shiite religious figures to prevent Shiites from taking power. He believes that America cannot stay long in Iraq. He mentioned that so far, the government has paid salaries to its employees twice: the first time in foreign currency, $20 each, and the second time in dinars, about $100. He noted that the value of the dinar is now about eight Iranian rials, and one dollar is 140 Iraqi dinars, and Iranian goods are abundant in the market. He criticized the programs of Al-Alam TV and Sahar Radio and said that the policy of the Supreme Council is political opposition to America, not military. He had gone to Iraq from Iran before Mr. Seyyed Mohammad Baqer al-Hakim.

In Iraq today, the Americans arrested about 100 people. In an explosion at a weapons depot, more than 30 people were killed in the city of Haditha, and many were wounded.

In the evening, a group of former representatives from various parliamentary terms came, who are colleagues of the Moderation and Development Party. Dr. Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the representative of Rasht and the Secretary-General of the Moderation and Development Party, and several others discussed the country's problems and asked me to take action. I also spoke about the stability of the system and solutions for reform.

The representatives who were sitting in protest in the parliament and the striking students in Isfahan ended their hunger strike without achieving any results. There is much sensitivity and discussion regarding the trip of Jack Straw, the British Foreign Secretary, to Iran.