Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

Yesterday in France and Austria, a widespread and unprecedented strike took place in protest against economic reforms  

A few hours before the arrival of [US Secretary of State] Colin Powell in Saudi Arabia, there were four bomb attacks on American residences in Riyadh at midnight.

Iranian insurance managers came.  Mr. [Syed Mohammad] Abbaszadegan, the head of insurance, reported and said that the judiciary and part of the insurance forces oppose the privatization of insurance. 

I went from home to Hosseinieh Tharullah in the center of Sepah.  In the meeting of officials of the representative of the Supreme Leader in Basij, after listening to the report of Mr. [Haider] Moslehi

In the session of the Assembly [Determining the expediency of the system], the opinion of the Assembly regarding the contract with the Assembly of Asian and African countries to establish an international arbitration center in Iran 

It was announced yesterday that an explosion in one of the American warships in the Persian Gulf has injured 11 of the ship's crew.  No explanation about the cause of the explosion

To participate in the funeral ceremony of the three brothers of Ayatollah [Syed Mahmoud Hashemi] Shahroudi who were martyred in the prisons of Saddam [Hussein]

[Mr. Takekazu Kawamura], the new ambassador of Japan arrived.  We discussed the development of cooperation and the issue of Palestine and the Additional [Protocol] 93+2 of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Mr. [Esmaeil] Davoodi Shamsi, [Head of the Parliamentary Administrative Organization] came. He gave a report on the program for establishing a center to revise laws and to resolve the problems of the Rafsanjan water project.

Mr. [Mahmoud] Vaezi, [Deputy of Strategic Research Center] came.  He had hints and suggestions about America, Iraq and Palestine

Mr. [Mohammed Hossein] Rezaei, the head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage [Organization], came. He reported on the situation of Hajj and Umrah and that due to the closure of Karbala Pilgrimage, the pressure on Umrah has increased. 

Following the announcement of America's agreement with the Mujahideen and its use in suppressing the Iraqi people, widespread criticism of America has begun.

I was at home studying.  At noon, the children were together.  Mohsen and Mehdi said about the implementation method of construction of Mosla and not using the national technical and executive system

American leaders these days are facing many questions for which they have no answers

In the morning, I went from home to [Imam Khomeini] mosque in Tehran;  To visit and check the readiness of Mosla to move the Friday prayer ceremony from Tehran University to there.

Mr. Amir Mir, the former representative of Zahedan and the current Director General [Planning] of the General Inspectorate came.  He had notes about Sistan and Baluchistan

Mr. [Gholamreza] Aghazadeh, [Head of the Atomic Energy Organization] and Dr. [Jamshid] Sabbaghzadeh, [Head of the Center for Laser Science and Technology] came. They said, laser enrichment on a pilot scale.

[Mr. Mohammad Jafari], the head of the Faculty of Natural Resources [Tehran University], came with a group of professors.

In the meeting of the assembly [identification of expediency of the system], the work of the general policies of the communication department was finished

I was at home;  By resting and studying.  It was announced that Tariq Aziz, [Iraq's deputy prime minister] has surrendered to the American forces.

The [UN] Security Council could not reach a decision on Iraq in its meeting yesterday

Today, the eyes of the world's media and political circles are on Karbala.  A huge crowd from all over Iraq has come there for the Arbaeen ceremony 

Yesterday, about 200,000 people protested in Baghdad, and three Shia clerics were arrested by the Americans, who returned to Baghdad after visiting Karbala. 

Messrs. [Abdolhossein] Sabet, head of the [Retirement] Organization, and [Mohammadhossein] Torbati, deputy of the organization, came

[Mr. Wale Christian Holte], the new ambassador of Norway, came and talked about strengthening cooperation.  I also expressed my satisfaction with the start of cooperation between the two countries in the field of oil and gas

Mr. [Mohsen] Nabawi, our new ambassador in Austria, came for consultation and had suggestions about the leader's representative in Austria and removing the veil from the leader's neck. 

I was at home.  He spent most of his time studying.  I read the US National Strategy for the 21st Century;  Ambitious and domineering and arrogant 

I used to work at home and in the office.  Saeed [Lahouti, Fati's wife] and Ali brought dinner.  Mohsen and Mehdi also came with Fereshte and Fawad

As a result of the protesting reaction to America's threats against Syria and even from England and Spain, America changed its tone and said

The White House has officially threatened Syria, and the Arab League, Germany, France, and Russia have asked America to stop the threat.  Today is the dawn of American planes

The discussion about the status of the Najaf authorities is hot.  Yesterday, the reports said that the houses of Ayat [Syed Ali] Sistani, Mohammad Saeed Hakim, Ishaq Fayyaz Afghani

Representatives of religious minorities in the parliament and their heads, [Mr. Morris Motamed, representative of Kilimian, Levon Davidian, representative of Tehran Armenians  

The first session of the Assembly was held in the new year.  At the request of the members, the whole time was spent discussing the issues of Iraq

Insecurity and looting are expanding in Iraq.  Radio [Voice] of America, which wants to play down the insecurity, says that many embassies and foreign missions

The US Defense Minister has blamed the Syrian government for sending weapons to Iraq in recent days and also sheltering some of the heads of the Iraqi government. 

To many people's surprise, the resistance of the Iraqis suddenly stopped last night and the American forces were deployed in the sensitive areas of Baghdad

Farsi News TV published news early in the morning that a missile hit Saddam's residence and killed him and his daughter and son.

America falsely announced that its forces entered Baghdad and captured one of Saddam's palaces and the Ministry of Information.

Mr. [Alireza] Pirouzmand came from Qom.  He complains about the Strategic Research Center [Council for Expediency Analysis] that their proposed plan regarding religious governance

Iraq announced that it had kicked out the Americans from the Baghdad airport and surrounded them, killed many people and destroyed many tanks.

The aggressors claim that they have reached 20 kilometers south of Baghdad and are fighting over the capture of Baghdad airport.

The United States, in order to improve its political situation in the world, has undertaken political maneuvers.

Repetition of the aggressors’ crime in the city of Amarah (the capital of Maysan Province in southeastern Iraq), with a helicopter attack on a car and the killing of 15 women and children.

The war in Iraq is similar to previous days. Iraq says that yesterday it killed 64 invading soldiers and destroyed 20 tanks and armored vehicles. Baghdad was attacked with cluster bombs. The invaders claim killing and capturing…

Two hours were spent in holiday meetings. The discussions were about the war, from different points of view. Some ministers were concerned about budget problems in the current year.

The martyrdom operation carried out yesterday in Najaf has caused fear among the invaders, and they have described it as the beginning of a new military strategy that Iraqi leaders had previously announced.

Before noon was spent meeting with managers and officials of the country. The discussions were mostly about the military problems of the Americans and the breaking of the prestige of the United States and Britain.

Meeting between Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and George W. Bush in the United States 

Bombing and missile attacks on Baghdad, Basra, Tanuma, and Mosul, and the landing of American paratroopers at the small Sulaymaniyah airport [in Iraqi Kurdistan], in preparation for opening a northern front.

The clashes in Iraq are becoming more violent. Last night, the United States used an electromagnetic electronic bomb in order to disrupt frequencies and wireless communications.

Today, the situation on the war fronts in Iraq did not change much. The bombardments intensified. The United States claims that it has approached Baghdad and that it has also airlifted forces into the areas around the cities of Al-Amarah and Kut.
 

The tone of Western propaganda has changed slightly since today, and there is no longer any of that boastful rhetoric or claims of invincibility. They now explicitly say that yesterday was the worst day of the war for the United States and Britain.

In the fourth day of the war, it appears that the situation has become more difficult for the attackers 
 

In the third day of the invasion of Iraq by the United States and the United Kingdom—referred to by them as a “coalition,” 

Today is the second day of the full-scale invasion of Iraq by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Spain.

At the opening of the Red Crescent Conference, I gave a speech about the importance of the spirit of philanthropy, self-sacrifice, forgiveness, and avoiding selfishness and monopoly, and criticized America for sedition.

The leadership criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the President regarding the proposal to Iraq.  Saddam's answer to Mr. Khatami is seen as arrogant and stubborn that he did not give any concessions.

The representative of Tafarsh, along with two German industrialists, suggest to cooperate with Iran and to use the catalyst manufactured by them to reduce [air] pollution and fuel consumption of cars.

The impeachment of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the 6th Parliament, in connection with the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq.

Bush has said with anger, if the people of the world believe that Iraq will surrender without force for disarmament, they are fooled.

I read a book about Ruba Rashidi and the important actions of Khwaja Rashid al-Din Fazlullah in Iran during the time of the Mongols.

We went to visit the laser center [in Karaj] that is under construction for uranium enrichment.  We had a contract with Russia, which Russia left unfinished due to American pressure

Al Jazeera TV aired a new tape of Bin Laden asking his supporters to take action against America if the war with Iraq starts.

Putin and the three countries of Russia, Germany and France, in a joint statement, have requested that the inspectors be given another deadline before military action against Iraq.

Foreign Minister Kharazi said that our serious problem with America and the West will be over the issue of nuclear technology.  I said that he suggested that we deal transparently and honestly

At the Shahab Khodro factory, I gave a lecture about the importance of fueling cars from an economic and environmental point of view.

In the meeting of the heads of the branches of power, Mr. Khatami and Karroubi objected to the intelligence activities in the Revolutionary Guards and the judiciary, as well as the methods of interrogations.

George W. Bush and Tony Blair threatened that Saddam's deadline was up and that a military strike was imminent if he continued to fail to cooperate seriously with weapons inspectors at the last minute.

Hassan Agha Khomeini, regarding the participation of national-religious groups in the council elections, said, 'Those who favor participation are not willing.'

Ayatollah Montazeri is hospitalized due to heart problems. Last night, I talked with the leadership about inquiring about Mr. Montazeri's condition.

The leadership is against the national participation of religious people in the council elections and has ordered their disqualification.

Columbia spaceship explosion with seven passengers on the way back

Mr. Sharbaf, the Deputy for Civil Engineering at the Tehran Municipality, and Mohsen Hashemi, the CEO of the Metro Company, came to visit. They spoke of the confusion and aimlessness of the municipal managers.

[Nelson] Mandela, the former president of South Africa, has stated that American policy is adventurous and that [Tony Blair], the British Prime Minister, is running the White House.

Visit to the heavy water plant under construction, Khondab region, southwest of Arak. 70% of the construction is domestic.

In the evening, Mr. Khatami came. We reached a consensus regarding nuclear issues, and I advised him not to consider resigning and to continue his work.

Ahmad Agha Khomeini called and said that the Imam says it seems Ghotbzadeh is in a bad financial situation and something should be done; Ahmad Agha suggested that he be assigned a job...

Dr. Adeli gave the report of his trip to India and said that the Indians did not accept the construction of the gas pipeline and so that Mr. Khatami [President] does not return empty handed.

Messrs. [Ali] Shamkhani, [Minister of Defense], and [Seyyed Ali] Hosseini-Tash, [President of the Defense Industries Education and Research Institute], came. They said that Mr. [Gholamreza] Aghazadeh...

Some of the [UN weapons] inspectors' reports to the Security Council regarding Iraq have been published, which stated

Decision about Iraq behind closed doors / It has been approved today that from tomorrow Ayatollah Montazeri will be released from house arrest

  [Colin Powell], the US Secretary of State, has said that, if necessary, [the US] is ready to go to war alone.

I delivered detailed remarks on the importance of the aerospace industry, the programs of the Reconstruction Era,    

Russia and China have also joined the protesters against America's unilateral stance on Iraq issues, and Canada has also announced

Germany and France's outspoken opposition to America's war policy in Iraq has angered the White House.

The Ministry of Interior has rejected the qualifications of a group of Freedom Movement candidates for Tehran City Council, which has caused surprise and strong criticism from them.

Opposition pressure, strikes and demonstrations against Venezuelan President [Hugo Chavez] have intensified.

After the dissolution of the Tehran City Council, today [Mr. Abdolvahid Mousavilari], Minister of Interior, [Mr. Mohammad Hassan Malekmadani]

The Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation, [Mr. Muhammad Jassim Al-Saqr, Chairman of the Foreign Policy Commission], came...

The council elections are the main topic of discussion in political circles and the media, and the right wing is not active.

We were guests of the leadership with the heads of the forces at night. In the case of Ayatollah Montazeri, it was decided to lift the siege. Regarding the request

In the evening, Dr. [Hassan] Rouhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, came. He offered to agree to the presidential candidacy.

I woke up this morning with a strange dream. In my dream, we were supposed to negotiate with the United States, leading a four-member delegation, including Dr. Rouhani.

We went to the leadership's office at nine in the morning. The heads of the three branches were also there. The leadership praised the cooperation of the heads of the three branches in fighting economic corruption.

Mr. [Ali] Karimi [Quds, Deputy Custodian of the Holy Shrine] and [Abdullah] Kopayee, [CEO of Sarakhs Special Economic Zone]

  We went to visit the Mashhad subway.  Mr. [Syedmahsen] Shushtri, the managing director, explained 

We flew to Mashhad. After being welcomed by the officials of Khorasan province and Mr. [Abbas Vaez] Tabasi

Protests against the Hayat Nou cartoon continued today. Messrs. [Hadi] Ghanemifard, Sadatian, and [Fereidoun] Golafar.

  Mr. Qassem Soleimani, [commander of IRGC Quds Force] came.  The result of his negotiations with Iraqi opponents, for decisions