Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – September 10, 2003

We went to Imam's shrine with the members of the Assembly of Experts. It was an official ceremony. Mr. Ali Meshkini, the head of the Assembly of Experts, who had usually opposed ceremonies, accompanied us because of my presence and also spoke inside the shrine. We also visited the tombs of the 72 martyrs, the martyrs' graves, and the grave of Mr. Seyyed Mahmoud Taleghani. At the request of the Assembly of Experts, we returned by metro. They were impressed by the grandeur and order of the metro.

We went to visit the Leader. Mr. Meshkini, Mr. Ebrahim Amini, the Second Vice President and Head of the Secretariat of the Assembly of Experts, and the Leader spoke. We went to the office of Mr. Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, the President. Mr. Khatami and Mr. Meshkini spoke.

I had lunch in my office. At 4:30 PM, we went to Azadi Stadium for the Quran competition festival, which has been held across the country for a year under the guidance of IRIB and with the cooperation of the Basij, the Army, Tehran Municipality, and the Prisons Organization, with more than one million participants. About 13,000 people were present at the ceremony. Mr. Ali Larijani, the head of IRIB, gave a welcome speech, and I gave an extensive speech about the Quran and the Quranic society and distributed the prizes.

At this gathering, a young woman from Bidgol, Kashan, named Vajiheh Biabani, won an Umrah trip and said that since it was Father's Day, she dedicated the prize to her father. The girl's generosity impressed those present, and in return, I announced that the cost of the Hajj pilgrimage for this well-mannered girl would also be paid so she could go to Mecca with her father, which moved the audience.

In Vienna, at the meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, discussions regarding Iran's nuclear programs continue. Apparently, three resolutions have been proposed: by the Europeans, Russia, and South Africa. The Non-Aligned Movement also opposes the issuance of a resolution. Iran has also threatened that if pressure is applied, it may reduce the level of its cooperation with the Agency. In the UN Security Council, the resolution to lift sanctions on Libya was not passed due to France's opposition.

In Iraq, several American military personnel have been killed and wounded. In Erbil, in Iraqi Kurdistan, a massive explosion in front of the American headquarters killed six American soldiers and wounded a number of Americans and civilians. Until now, Kurdistan had been presented as a safe region.

In Israel, two martyrdom operations by Hamas in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem killed 15 people and wounded about 100. Israel has also increased its attacks on the occupied territories, and Ariel Sharon, the Prime Minister of Israel, who had traveled to India, cut his trip short and returned to Israel, even though they attached great importance to that trip, which was the first of its kind. Widespread demonstrations were also held against him.