Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs – October 3, 2001 (Mehr 11, 1380) – Hashemi's Account of Ali Shamkhani’s Trip to Russia

• Meeting with Abdollah Jasbi and Complaints About the Ministry of Science’s Management of Islamic Azad University
• Meeting with Amir Tehrani, Former Parliamentary Deputy of the Ministry of Intelligence, and Discussions About New Job Offers
• Meeting with Gholamreza Ramazani and Baghernejad from the Governmental Disciplinary Organization, Reporting on the Case of Mohammad Saeedi, CEO of Iran Marine Services
• Explanation of the Privatization of Oil Product Swap and Transit Licenses in 1995 and the Case of Iran Marine Services
• Meeting with Several Researchers and Innovators in the Communications Industry
• Hashemi’s Account of Ali Shamkhani’s Trip to Russia

Full Diary Entry:

Dr. [Abdollah] Jasbi, [President of Islamic Azad University], came to meet with me. He complained about the Ministry of Science’s obstruction regarding the approval of new programs, despite the Administrative Justice Court having annulled the Ministry’s recent directive and the legal department of the Parliament ruling in favor of the university. He asked me to request [Mohammad] Khatami, [the President], to put an end to the harassment. I reminded him to expedite the compilation of the history of the revolution with the help of the History Foundation through student theses [at postgraduate and doctoral levels].

Mr. [Amir] Tehrani from the Ministry of Intelligence came. He has been dismissed from his position as Parliamentary Deputy and has rejected new job offers, including one from the national broadcasting organization. I advised him to stay in the ministry. Mr. Baghernejad and [Gholamreza] Ramazani from the Governmental Disciplinary Organization came to complain about the pressure from the Parliament's Article 90 Commission in defense of a convicted person. [Mohammad Saeedi], CEO of Iran Marine Services, who had been previously convicted in the Disciplinary Court, is trying to prevent the execution of his sentence through the Article 90 Commission, and the matter has turned into a political issue.

In the evening, a group of researchers and innovators came to explain their innovations related to communications, including the design of sensitive ICs for Japan. They requested cooperation from the Ministry of Telecommunications and mentioned that millions of people around the world are unemployed due to the current situation and the resulting recession. They pointed out that many Iranians working abroad are inclined to return home, and a plan must be devised to attract them. In Iran itself, various sectors such as tourism, hotels, exports, and the stock market are experiencing deepening stagnation.

[George] Bush, [President of the United States], announced his commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, which has satisfied the Arab world—a reactive political move to gain Arab cooperation. [Tony Blair], the British Prime Minister, stated that the Taliban must either hand over [Osama] bin Laden, [the leader of al-Qaeda], or prepare for war. The Taliban responded that they are ready for war. In retaliation for yesterday’s Palestinian attack on a settlement that killed two Zionists, Israel launched a large-scale attack, martyring and injuring many. Hezbollah in Lebanon also attacked Israeli outposts in Shebaa.

Mr. [Ali] Shamkhani’s [Minister of Defense] trip to Russia and the announcement of a new military contract has had widespread effects, with the U.S. expressing its displeasure. The Northern Alliance [in Afghanistan] claims it is advancing into Taliban-held areas, and the announcement of the Alliance's agreement with [former Afghan King] Zahir Shah has been widely reported. Some estimates suggest that the direct and indirect losses from the [September 11] attacks on the U.S. exceed $400 billion, of which $8 billion is covered by insurance, while transportation companies, especially airlines, have been paralyzed. [The airline] Swissair announced that it has suspended some flights because it can’t afford fuel costs.