Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - November 1, 1999 - Widespread Media Coverage of Abdullah Nouri's Trial

Efforts to construct the current parliament building (Islamic Consultative Assembly) began before the revolution, halted afterward, and were later revived by Abolqasem Ashouri, former Deputy Mayor of Tehran and former Deputy Minister of Housing and Urban Development, who implemented the project.

Hussein Malouji, former Minister of Mines and Metals, held consultations regarding the establishment of the Independence Party, which later changed its name to Moderation and Development Party under the leadership of Sheikh Hassan Rouhani.

There was widespread media coverage of Abdullah Nouri's trial.

In the morning, I visited the new parliament building under construction and the restoration of the old building. [Ali Abdolalizadeh], the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, came to my house, and we went together. On the way, he explained the policies of mass and small-scale construction and the plans for Tehran. He expressed his disappointment that I did not attend their conference.

I visited the new hall under construction, which is massive and grand, seemingly unparalleled among parliaments worldwide. The design is by Iranian engineers, initiated during the previous regime, halted after the revolution, and later revived during my presidency of the parliament. Abolqasem Ashouri, [Deputy Minister of Housing and Urban Development], put the project up for competition. During my presidency, construction began, and I laid the foundation stone.

They are currently doing the finishing touches, and a mosque is being built in the basement, which can also serve as a shelter during wartime. The old parliament hall, which was destroyed in a fire several years ago, has been well restored, and the main part of the old building has been allocated to committees with some modifications. There are also good plans for expanding Baharestan Square. The whole project is turning into a valuable complex. The key point is re-establishing the connection with the parliament's original and historic location.

In the afternoon, [Hussein] Malouji came to discuss the Independence Party [Moderation and Development] and the country's situation. He mentioned that individuals like [Seyed Mohammad] Jahromi and [Alireza] Sheikh Attar, who are active for the party, are shaping its image as right-wing. One of Mehdi Tajer’s colleagues, a Bahraini merchant who had fallen out with him, reported Tajer’s misuse of the Al-Mahdi aluminum project. I instructed them to investigate.

The media has widely covered Abdullah Nouri’s trial, and the possibility of my participation in the elections is gaining attention. The leftists are mischievously trying to dissuade me from running, likely because my presence would disrupt their balance. The right-wing, on the other hand, is pushing hard for my involvement.

It has been raining for two or three days, thankfully. Unfortunately, today there was a 4.9-magnitude earthquake in Kazeroon, causing damage and injuring 28 people. Floods and storms in India and Bangladesh have left thousands dead and displaced.

[Osama] bin Laden, [leader of al-Qaeda], has declared his willingness to leave Afghanistan to ease pressure on the Taliban, provided that only Mullah Omar, the Taliban leader, knows his new location. However, the U.S. views this statement with skepticism.