Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - August 2, 2002

Publication of the Open Letter from the Assembly of Representatives of Previous Parliaments to Ayatollah Khamenei

The publication of the open letter from the Assembly of Representatives of Previous Parliaments to Ayatollah Khamenei has received widespread coverage in foreign media. In this letter, the main blame for the problems has been attributed to the leadership, and they have called on the leader to take action for reform.

Complete Daily Log:

Yesterday, Mr. [Reza] Seyfollahi, responsible for Iraqi opposition affairs, came. He said that in the event of a possible American attack on Iraq, the Iraqi opposition must appear to operate freely and independently, while particularly the forces of [Badr Corps], the Supreme Council, and Iran should secretly guide and support them.

The publication of the open letter from the Assembly of Representatives of Previous Parliaments to Ayatollah Khamenei has received widespread coverage in foreign media. In this letter, the main blame for the problems has been attributed to the leadership, and they have called on the leader to take action for reform. Mr. [Ghasem] Sholeh-Saadi, a former representative from Shiraz, criticized and questioned the leadership in an interview with the BBC. It is said that following the resignation of Mr. [Seyed Jalaluddin] Taheri Isfahani, the threats from America have become a new focal point for them; they might think that with this threat, the regime will be cautious in dealing with opponents, thus they want to gain concessions, which could have the opposite effect and potentially work in their favor. The Freedom Movement and Mr. [Ibrahim] Yazdi are also raising the issue of national unity in this context, which in another language follows the same goals as the reformists of the Second of Khordad (May 23, 1997).

The spokesperson for the White House denied the claim made in yesterday’s Washington Post article, which stated that the U.S. has lost hope in Mr. Khatami and his associates.

Democrats in America have heavily criticized George Bush, the [President], and they explicitly say that Bush has caused the decline of America’s credibility, economy, and security. Al Gore, Bush’s electoral rival, and members of Congress have stated this, and the revelation of American banks’ assistance to the violations of the Enron oil company has exacerbated the problem.

I went to the Ministry of Defense’s Aerospace Industries Organization to welcome the bodies of 575 martyrs that had returned to the country through the exchange of Iraqi soldiers’ corpses. It was a magnificent ceremony attended by officials, the public, and the families of the martyrs, with military honors primarily from the army, the IRGC, the Basij, and the police. Mr. [Mir Faisal] Baqerzadeh, [Head of the Missing Persons Search Committee of the Armed Forces General Staff], and [Mohammad Baqer] Zolqadr, [Deputy Commander of the IRGC], reported. They mentioned that the remains of 70 of them had remained intact underground for years, which has amazed Iraqi scholars and physicians. I delivered an extensive speech on the significance of the role of the martyrs in defense and resistance in captivity, and also warned against America and its agents.

I went to my office. Messrs. Mohsen Rezaei, [Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council], [Mohammad Reza] Abasi-Fard, and [Hassan] Danayi-Far came for the Council’s affairs. In the afternoon, Mr. [Noorollah] Abadi, the governor of Lorestan, came. He provided a report on the province’s activities and needs, stating that the unemployment rate in the province is 30%, and he asked me to intervene as before to solve the country’s problems; especially regarding labor law reform, privatization, and foreign policy.

There has been significant criticism of Israel’s aerial assaults on civilian populations in Gaza; including from [Kofi Annan], the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the European Union, and even America; despite [Ariel] Sharon, [the Prime Minister of Israel], congratulating the military for their operations. The President and the Foreign Minister of Israel stated that the operations were mistakes.

On my way home, I went to Ekhtar Hospital for a dental procedure.